Cattle experience?

HopefulDVM · Sep 21, 2009

Now I'm fretting a bit about experience (I have a couple of years to go though)-I haven't officially done anything with cattle. I have helped tag a few at a friends farm one afternoon but that's it.

Would it be weird to phone a dairy farm and ask to volunteer/shadow a few weekends? If you have experience with cattle-what did you do?

PigsRock · Sep 21, 2009

It's so neat to work with cattle-people don't expect them to have personalities but they totally do! And newborn calves are the cutest! I never had any experience with cattle before I came to college but I took a livestock handling class where we got to work them and give shots, do pour-ons, freeze brand, draw blood... Lots of fun stuff!

We also got to go feed one morning (very cool) and we could halter-break some show cattle outside of class for extra credit. I named mine Strawberry and she was a little witch... But anyway I would go work some with your friend's cattle so you are comfortable around them, then go call up a bigger cattle farm if you want. That way they know you've got some idea of what's going on.

Good luck!

airrick16 · Sep 21, 2009

Yeah I wouldnt mind getting some cattle experience. But I'd probably become a vegetarian if i saw the inside of processing plant. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

Backwoods Boy · Sep 21, 2009

No one said you'd have to work in a processing plant to get cattle experience. Thankfully I am a country boy who can get cattle/swine experience as needed.

psjlg2 · Sep 21, 2009

I don't have any cattle experience but wish I did🙁 eek!

Call and ask if they have anything useful for you to do. I'm sure if you say you just want some experience for vet school, it wont be weird.
Things are only as awkward as you make them.

rileyroo · Sep 21, 2009

yes yes yes!!! spend a weekend at a dairy. it'll be great experience. you might even ask them the next time they are planning to have a vet come out and do preg checks. see if you can find some beef cattle too 😉 those are fun! good luck!

HopefulDVM · Sep 22, 2009

Thanks all!! I will do that!

I live in a city but it's in Alberta so there are lots of farms. Just needed some encouragement 🙂 I will keep you posted!

Pigsrock-I know what you mean, I remember wanting a cow after watching 'city slickers' (remember that baby calf he took home? SOOO adorable! 😛 )

Airrick16-I *am* a vegetarian 😛 LOL So no worries there heheh

Ansci2012 · Sep 22, 2009

I spent a week on a beef cattle farm this past summer and it was unbelievable. It was a friend of a friend type thing through one of my mom's friends. the couple let me stay on their farm during calving season and it was unbelievable. I got to see a c-section and the vet let me help! I would definetley recommend it!

rileyroo · Sep 22, 2009

i work with cattle every friday and it's my favorite day of the week. it's a nice ending to a rough school/research week. recently we performed a c-section and delivered a calf with 5 legs. definitely won't forget that experience! i love LA medicine! 😀

clairbear · Sep 24, 2009

Try to see if you could help milk at a dairy farm a few days a week. I did that at my aunt and uncle's farm this summer and with usually about 3 people it usually took us about 1 1/2 hours to clean the milkers, milk about 30 cows, and take care of the calves. It was definately a lot of fun and they were grateful for the help.

georgie339 · Sep 25, 2009

Cattle experience?

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