So far, this internship experience has expanded my knowledge and skills in animal management, specifically grazing management decisions. I’ve had the opportunity to work hands-on with two herds, 16 sheep and 10 beef cattle in each, at the research center. These animals are part of a grazing research project, and I’ve been involved in the daily care and observation of their health, behavior, and performance. Throughout the internship, I’ve worked closely with my mentors (Amanda, Brittany, Jeff, and my co-intern, Nina). Together, we’ve been responsible for setting up paddocks for rotational and strip grazing using temporary fencing. This has helped me understand how to manage livestock in different pasture setups, but more importantly, it’s taught me how to monitor livestock behavior to determine when it's time to rotate. We make these decisions based not just on pasture conditions, but also on how the animals are acting. The group of us must communicate on when it is best to move the animals and on animal health observations.
This past week was especially animal-focused. We clipped invasive cedar trees in several pastures and set up new fencing to divide pastures for better herd movement. On the weigh day (which occurs every two weeks) I assisted in collecting fecal samples from both the sheep and cattle to help monitor parasite levels. I also observed Britanny conduct FAMACHA and BCS scoring on the sheep and BCS on the cattle. This hands-on learning gave me a better understanding of preventative health care and checks in ruminants. One of the highlights of the week was helping with animal weigh-in. Recording weights is critical for tracking growth, performance, and overall health. It also gave me the opportunity to practice low-stress animal handling and understand how different management strategies can affect animal condition over time. The weigh days emphasize the importance of clear and effective communication to get animals through the handling system safely and effectively.
This past week was especially animal-focused. We clipped invasive cedar trees in several pastures and set up new fencing to divide pastures for better herd movement. On the weigh day (which occurs every two weeks) I assisted in collecting fecal samples from both the sheep and cattle to help monitor parasite levels. I also observed Britanny conduct FAMACHA and BCS scoring on the sheep and BCS on the cattle. This hands-on learning gave me a better understanding of preventative health care and checks in ruminants. One of the highlights of the week was helping with animal weigh-in. Recording weights is critical for tracking growth, performance, and overall health. It also gave me the opportunity to practice low-stress animal handling and understand how different management strategies can affect animal condition over time. The weigh days emphasize the importance of clear and effective communication to get animals through the handling system safely and effectively.
I also completed my IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) training during the previous week, which focused on proper animal welfare and research ethics. Another experience that was unique was observing semen collection from a bull, which gave me an up-close look at reproductive management techniques. My background in raising livestock has given me a strong foundation, but this internship is pushing me to connect classroom knowledge with real-world animal care decisions. One of my main goals for this experience is to become more confident in evaluating animal health and contributing to herd management discussions. This past week helped me take steps toward that goal, and I’m excited to continue building those skills in the weeks ahead.
Here is photos of the pasture that we cleared cedar trees from at WMREC. The sheep and cattle graze this area.
This photo is whenever Nina, the other intern at the office, completed our IACUC training outside. We learned about safe research animal handling.
Comments
Post a Comment