Vet stuff, Day 3
Arrived at 5 am. Helped round up cows and milking (strip udders to check for mastitis, dip in iodine pre-wash, wipe clean, attach milking apparatus, post-wash when finished). Fresh cows (just given birth) are milked less to prevent calcium deficiency (deficiency could cause "milk fever"). Helped vaccinate and castrate calves. Watched de-horning via blowtorch and caustic paste (scorched horn bud falls off, paste kills growth cells around base).
First farm: A lot of preg checks. Used Fertagyl and Estrozine. Stuck hand in last cow, but again, felt nothing recognizable. Learned physical symptoms for fresh cows (a bit thin, large udders full of milk) vs. cows who have been milking a while (fuller healthier body, smaller udders). REMEMBER: Cows need to calve so they can produce milk, which is why these symptoms make sense.
Stephanie and Travis' farm: Helped round up cows for preg checks. One cow still had some afterbirth inside her after calving. Cows have dual horn uterus (unlike humans). Reasons why need to perform preg checks: 1. Know which cows are open and can immediately be bred. 2. Need to know when to give cows "vacation" (2 months before calves are born, mothers allowed to rest and feed to build up reserves). Watched two cows with abscesses in their front hooves get drained and blocks attached. Helped restrain goat getting de-horned (skier mask for goats!)
Waste of time case: Health check for calf crossing states to attend show.
Father and son farm (the boy getting the tumors removed): Ultrasound on cow. Given chance to try ultrasound myself, moderately successful, though couldn't move around very easily. Examined cow with swollen hooves, but seemed to be nothing serious. Health check for cow and calves for show.
Back to vet's farm: Helped/watched dry matter test for corn silage. Ideal is about 65% moisture, 35% dry matter (?). Ended at 5pm today (vet has to attend visitation for client who passed away)
Total hours: 12 hrs.