Tuesday, May 1, 2012

You want me to do what???























Like I said in my "about me", my blog will include some of my experience farming. If you have a weak stomach you may not want to look at this blog post. Tabbethia teaches a class for Laguardia College at Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm in Suffolk County. The class is a vet tech program. Tabbethia helps out with the large farm animal section. Two Saturday's ago, I didn't wake up thinking I would be doing what I did that day but that's all part of the job I guess. Tabbethia asked me if I would like to join the class. She would be doing a shearing (which I never find old to watch) and they were doing something with cows. Oh and she got me there because she said there would be baby chickens and triplet baby goats, my weakness is baby animals! 





When I showed up, there were three female cows. The class was shown how to administrate shots and how to put medication into a cow using a stomach tube. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into until the large gloves and huge bottle of lube came out. Now if anyone knows Tabbethia they know that she would get a great kick out of making me do what I did next!!


This is a palpation of a cow rectum. I know you are going to say why would anyone ever want to do that? Well this is why:

Uses of Rectal Palpation
1) artificial insemination
2) non-surgical recovery of embryos for subsequent embryo transfer
3) pregnancy diagnosis
4) postpartum reproductive exam to determine suitability of the animal for breeding and to estimate whether the cow is cyclic.
5) clinical diagnosis of cystic ovarian disease and uterine infections.

One of the cows was pregnant and I was able to feel the calf though the rectal wall. I didn't get to examine her but the students that did said it was amazing and they could feel features like the face and nostrils off the baby calf.



Who would of thought, an FIT grad doing a palpation?  You never really know where your life will turn but I say just go with it! 

5 comments:

  1. Awesome Lexi! It's all about aquiring the knowledge you need to be a great farmer, right? And Tabbethia is the perfect person to teach you. AND LOL because I can totally see her enjoying every minute of making you do that. You handled it like a champ! Good for you!

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    1. Haha thanks Christine. I was proud of myself for doing it! Nick made me come home and shower right away hahah

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  2. Great practice - I can't tell you how many lives I have saved because I knew what I was feeling inside of an animal - heck there is times you have to do it without even gloves. I have since starting this farm 16 years ago never wear jewelry, watches and my finger nails are always cut to nothing left because you never know when or where you hands will be... Congrat's on doing what needs to be done.

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    1. Well I dont know if I knew everything I was feeling but atleast I know how to get in now! Thats so amazing that you have saved animals lives! I made sure it was not my ring ringer hand, boy my husband would have killed me it I lost that!!

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  3. Does the exam make the cow uncomfortable? Is she in any pain? Curious. . .

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