Horse Health, Calf Care, and New Questions
#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk
This week felt a little slower than some of the others, but there was still something new to learn almost every day. We spent a lot of time checking water and making sure all of the cows and calves were doing well. A few calves needed treated, so I got more practice helping doctor sick calves and paying attention to the little signs that tell you something isn’t right. I’ve realized that ranch work is really about being observant because catching a problem early can make a huge difference.
One of the more interesting days was when we took one of the horses to the vet because he had some strange bumps. We found out they were viral warts, which I had never really seen before. After getting back to the ranch, we had to go through the other horses that had them and treat them by pinching the warts off with pliers until they bled. It definitely wasn’t something I expected to be doing, but I learned that making them bleed helps the horse’s immune system recognize the virus so it can fight it off. It was one of those treatments that seems unusual at first, but after hearing the reasoning behind it, it made a lot more sense.
One thing this week made me think about is how many different ways there are to treat the same problem. Before this, I wouldn’t have guessed that removing the warts would actually help the immune system respond better. It reminded me that there are a lot of ranch practices that might seem odd until you understand the science behind them. It’s made me want to ask more questions instead of just assuming there’s only one right way to do something.
I still have a lot of questions about diseases and health management in livestock and horses. Seeing the viral warts made me curious about how they spread, why some horses get them while others don’t, and what other treatment options are available. I also want to learn more about recognizing illnesses earlier, especially in calves, so I can become more confident making decisions before problems get worse.
Another highlight of the week was getting to go to the Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival. It was fun to see a different side of the livestock industry and learn more about sheep production and all of the work that goes into raising them. It reminded me that even though I’ve spent most of my internship working with cattle, there are so many other areas of agriculture that use similar skills but have their own unique challenges and management practices.
Submitted by: MacKenzie Jones
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
