The first meeting of the West Luther 4-H Vet Club was held recently at Ken and Barbara Leslie’s house in Damascus.
Club members learned about preventive puppy and kitten health care and when and what vaccines pets should have. The students also listened to heartbeats through a stethoscope and then looked at different x-rays. Snacks were provided by the Leslies.
A second meeting was held at Henria Holsteins in Conn. Club members learned how the respiratory and health scoring system confirms the health of a calf.
They also learned what the attitude, ear score, nasal score and fecal score should be like for a healthy calf. The club discussed the diagnostic process for evaluating a presenting complaint and steps to be taken when inspecting a calf. A tour of the calf barns allowed the participants to use those techniques on some of the calves.
Elections followed and members voted in president Ian Gorman; vice president Genna Wright; club secretary Jessica Swanston and the press reporters Claudia Ferreira and Rachel Brodhaecker.
The third meeting of the vet club was at the Ponsonby Research Station. The students toured the sheep and dairy buildings and learned about the general biosecurity procedures required before entering the facility, as well as the biosecurity measures of the transportation of animals and requirements for personal entry of the staff and visitors into a barn. The meeting ended with a snack.
This column was submitted by Claudia Ferreira and Rachel Brodhaecker, of the West Luther 4-H Vet Club.
