Gearing Up for Veterinary School

#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk

Over this past week I learned how to use new equipment such as a skid steer. I learned how to drive a Bobcat and use it properly. I also learned how to give Ivermectin to deworm cattle by spraying it down their backs. We ran the cows and calves through the squeeze chute where they got vaccinated, treated, and wormed. We also loaded some cows up in a livestock trailer to go to the sale barn, which was a new experience for me. We separated and weaned cows and calves this past week. As a result, I got more practice working with the horses, herding cows, and doing cattle work. I also raked grass this week, which was then it was bailed into large round bales and small square bales. We then had to load the square bales up onto a trailer and then stack them in the barn. This was a long process but I learned a lot.

A concept I would challenge would be buying older cattle. The prices are lower for older cows, however, there is a higher chance of them getting sick or having issues. There are also only a limited number of calves you will receive from them. Another concept I would challenge is using the pour on Ivermectin instead of the oral Ivermectin that they would ingest. I feel that the cattle take in more dewormer with the oral Ivermectin.

I have questions about feeding square bales compared to round bales and which are easier for providing food for the cattle. I also have questions about which type of Ivermectin would be more effective for the cattle, the pour on or the oral Ivermectin. I was wondering if there are any easier methods for loading and stacking the square bales because it takes a good amount of time and involves a lot of physical labor.

I plan to use what I have learned from this past week, and what I have learned from this internship in general, towards my future goals. I still plan on attending veterinary school and I have learned a lot about treating sick or injured cattle. I have also learned more about dewormers, vaccinations, and medications. I hope to use this information in school. I hope to own horses and cattle of my own someday. This internship will help me with that goal because I have learned so much about animal, water, and land management. I know more about haying, irrigation, feeding, and rotating animals than I ever have. Overall, this internship has been an amazing experience. I have met a lot of wonderful people and learned an abundant amount of new things.

Submitted by: Leiana Andrade Stout
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team