One of the greatest aspects of veterinary school is the plethora
of organizations. There are clubs for students interested in
horses, internal medicine, small ruminants (vet speak for sheep and
deer), shelter animals, holistic techniques (i.e. chiropractics and
acupuncture), and chickens. Okay, maybe that last one is more
of a fun, get together group and less about veterinary
medicine. At Texas A&M, we offer somewhere in the area of
30 veterinary student organizations, and we are adding new ones
every year. Just this year we have added surgery, dentistry,
and feline clubs. Which leads me to ask, why are we just now
getting clubs for surgery and cats? Were cat spays and
neuters not important until now? They obviously were, but I
digress.
Additionally, some of the best learning experiences come from
extra-curricular (university language for outside the class room)
activities. Since starting school, I have drug tested horses
at several top competitions, I have spent time on the backside of
Churchill Downs, I have wrestled and medicated an alpaca, and this
weekend I took on a 1000 lb steer……..and won (man grunt).
This weekend our bovine practitioners and small ruminant clubs
organized their first annual Ruminant Wetlab. Our equine
practitioners club has held a similar but larger wet lab for many
years. At the Equine Wetlab, around 200 students from over 20
vet schools converge on Texas A&M in January to participate in
their choice of around 30 hands-on learning labs, everything from
arthroscopic surgery to stallion collection. Whose idea was
it to pick the coldest, rainiest month for such an activity, I
don't know. But as they say in Aggieland, if something
happens twice it is a tradition, so I don't think Equine Wetlab
will be changing dates anytime soon. Again, I digress.
Where was I? Right, Ruminant Wetlab. Okay, back on
track. I have already had 2 mugs of coffee this morning, and
I think it is altering my mental capacities. Ruminant Wetlab
was held on Saturday. The students planning, hosting, and
running the event did a phenomenal job. We had the
opportunity to participate in all kinds of labs from camelid
(alpaca/llama) handling to dystocia (difficulty giving birth)
relieving techniques to pregnancy ultrasounding. It was
awesome! I personally participated in the breeding soundness
exam, dystocia, rumen health, and (da da da DAAAA) knot tying and
casting.
What does that mean, you might be asking? Well, I asked
that same question when I was signing up. I figured if I
didn't know then it would be a great opportunity to expand my
knowledge. The knot tying portion was, as it suggests, a 15
minute lecture on different knot tying techniques. Don't
laugh, there are that many ways to secure a rope, and each one has
its own purpose. I learned the square, the granny, the bow
line, the surgeons, the clove hitch, and the reefer. Now I
can keep up with my brother at the Naval Academy. They think
they are cool with all their sailing lingo. Ha, I got you now
little brother.
After that, we moved on to casting. This is where I pitted
my strength against a 1000 lbs angus steer. Casting is a
method of laying down an animal, usually cattle and horses, with
ropes in such as way that is safe for the animal and the
veterinarian. It is usually used in cattle when the vet needs
to work on the cow's hooves or belly, and there isn't a $10,000+
hydraulic chute handy. The first technique we were taught
involved 5 vet students, 5 pieces of rope, and one very patient and
kind clinician, Dr. Mays. At the end, we had this steer on
its back, belly up, with all 4 feet secured. The steer was
completely calm and looked somewhat like your favorite dog that
wants a belly scratch.
I know you are thinking, "Wait Joe, you said you took on a steer
and won, not you and 5 other people." You are right my
friend, and that is where the second casting technique comes into
play. The second technique was called a "running W"
method. I would assume, but don't know, that it hails from
King Ranch, home of the running W brand. The method is
simple, take one long piece of rope. Lay the half way point
just in front of the cow's withers (tall part of the shoulders),
bring the two ends in between the front feet, cross the ends over
the back, and take ends in between the hind feet. Finally,
grasp the ends from a safe distance behind the cow of your choice
and pull. Viola! The cow calmly kneels and goes to the
ground. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had to try.
So I took my rope and placed it on the first steer, stood
behind, and pulled. Down he went. He looked like he was
just lying down in a lush green pasture, underneath the spring
sun. Man that was cool, but was it a fluke. Was this
cow trained? I had to test it on a more formidable
opponent. In the next pen stood a big angus steer. He
was several hundred pounds heavier than the steer I just brought
down weighing over 1000 lbs. (By the time this fish story
hits next week, I might be saying 2000 lbs.) He was big, and
not as calm as the first steer. I went over, and with the
help of my fellow comrade, Stephen, we placed the rope. We
got behind, and pulled…….and he went down. Now I will admit
that big boy stood there for a minute before going down and I have
the rope burns to prove it, but he went down. Now he also
only stayed down as long as he wanted. When he, the steer,
decided he wanted to stand again, there wasn't enough lead in
Stephen and I's muscles to keep him down.
It was by far one of the coolest things I have learned since
starting school. It was simple, quick, and most importantly
safe for the animal and us, although my hands may think
differently. I have always been told, it is about brains and
not brawn. This was a classic example. If I can bring
down a 1000 lbs. steer, then anyone can. Just wait until I
pull that little rope trick out over Christmas. Those Navy
boys won't know what hit 'em!
Thanks and Gig'em,
Joe
(PS: No vet students were harmed in the writing of this
blog.)