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Livestock Nursery a Popular Tradition at State Fair
It's a tradition: For more than 30 years, Dr. Ben Norman, Veterinary Medicine Extension veterinarian emeritus, has coordinated the training and duties of as many as 50 veterinary students who work at the California State Fair taking turns around the clock in the popular State Fair Livestock Nursery.
At the exhibit, pregnant sheep, cows, and goats are brought to the nursery. When an animal goes into labor, she is placed on a stage surrounded by bleachers to help the audience observe the birth process. Veterinary students stand ready to provide assistance to the mother throughout the labor and one student explains the process to the assembled crowd and answers questions about the animals and their health. Dozens of calves, goat kids and lambs may be born during the fair.
Students receive intensive training, learning how to properly examine the cows, goats and sheep, and how to interact with the public. Just before the fair begins, the students tour the fairgrounds and set up the nursery under the supervision of technical staff and student crew chiefs.
At the livestock nursery, veterinary students care for the mothers until they return home. The nursery is supervised 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The students gain valuable large animal experience and develop client communications skills by making presentations and answering questions about the animals and their health.
To protect the health of all the animals, veterinary students perform health checks for all the fair animals in exhibits and competitions. These students also run a cow- and goat-milking tent and a butter-churning activity. Several students will help out at "veterinary school," a hands-on science activity for children aged 10-17.
The veterinary school provides other services, including drug residue testing on the animals for meat quality assurance.
Dr. Jennifer Cornish, the official state fair veterinarian, oversees the medical activities of the livestock nursery and other animal health duties throughout the duration of the fair. Dr. Cornish earned her DVM degree in 2003 from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and completed a two-year residency in the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Besides providing valuable training for veterinary students in normal births and client communications, the livestock nursery reminds state fair visitors about everyday life on the farm. Some families bring their children year after year to witness the miracle of birth.
It's a state fair tradition that remains as fresh as a newborn farm animal.
WHAT: California State Fair
WHERE: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento , CA 95815
http://www.bigfun.org/GeneralInfo/MapsDirections.asp
WHEN: August 21-September 7
http://www.bigfun.org/GeneralInfo/datestimesprices.asp
*Please note that fair hours may differ from livestock nursery hours as the veterinary crew must spend certain times caring for the animals.
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