Calving work experience

Fblawns

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone had any information on how to get some experience in calving even just to watch?

I am considering applying to graduate entry veterinary medicine and I think large animal practice is for me!

Any help would be much appreciated!

greysides

The simplest way would be to ask a farmer that yourself or your family know. After that you could contact the UCD farm and see if they could help. If you lived near Moorepark Research Centre or some of the other Research Centres they may be able to help as well.

It wouldn't be what you asked but you could try to arrange to travel with a vet over the Easter period to see calving from that point of view. They (obviously) wouldn't be the unassisted type though. The experience of travelling with a vet would be a good one to get if you are considering the field.

Bear in mind that while entry points to veterinary are high that's all they are. The lifestyle is not best suited to academic types despite the entry requirement.
A lot of disillusioned vet graduates leave the profession in short order, or rather 'left', as alternative employment is not as readily available now as it may have been before. Definitely a case of 'measure twice, cut once'.