Page 39 - ACV Journal DECEMBER 2015

Reports
FIELD TRIP
Chelsea Smith, Benjamin Linn, DVM 3
Field trip as part of the requirements of the elective
rotation in ruminant health and production at the School
of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of
Adelaide
In late September of this year, a group of seven final year vet students
from the University of Adelaide set off on a seven day tour around the
Western Districts of Victoria and the South East of South Australia as
part of their ruminant health elective rotation. The aim of the trip was to may not be an option. We also had some in-depth discussions on
expose students interested in ruminant production to the herd health
aspects of production animal medicine. Bright and early on a Sunday
morning the group squeezed into a Toyota HiAce van with bags, swags,
boxes and books along with our course supervisor, Dr. Kiro ‘the master
packer’ Petrovski.
Our work on the trip began earlier than anticipated. Having travelled
not ten minutes down the road from Roseworthy Campus, Kiro dug out
copies of the ANZCVS exams in epidemiology, dairy, beef, goat and
sheep medicine and grilled every member with a terrifying onslaught
of questions for the ENTIRE seven hour drive from Roseworthy to
Hamilton. After six hours, one of our number could no longer take the
heat, and cracked under pressure, curling up into a ball like the empty
shell (not mentioning any names … Dave).
Our first night was spent under the hospitable care of Nick and Sarah
Moyle of Pathfinder Angus, Hamilton. After a quick tour of the farm
we threw some steaks on the barbie (thanks Dr Andrew Hoare!) and
settled down with a couple of cold beers… Little did we know that
this was the first steak dinner of a further four in a row, some of us
were more than happy about this, however others felt that their risk of
colorectal cancer may increase significantly after their fifth steak dinner Golf Club (no worries Gabe). Fortunately the Keith Bakery opened at 5
in a row.
The next morning we were off to the Victorian DPI Hamilton Research
Centre where we were given a solid briefing on the latest in red meat
research and pasture management. Those of us from sheep properties
were particularly interested in the benefits of using strips of tall
wheatgrass through pastures to limit wind chill in lambs. After this we
all jumped back into the HiAce and drove off to Mt Gambier for five
days.
JEPHCOTT / HARPHAM
DYNASTY??!!
Sandi Jephcott
Mum, Lady Barbara Jephcott (nee Harpham), graduated from the
University of Queensland in 1956 and I graduated from the same Uni
in 1986. Mum was the third women to graduate from UQ. This is her
summary: ‘……the first was Ola McPherson in 1940 (she went to
TPNG too) and another girl came from Sydney to do her last year
in UQ because her husband had a practice in Maryborough, she
graduated just before me.’ After Mum graduated, she went to work
for Colonel Rose at Department of Primary Production based in Alice
Springs. Mum and Dad started a cattle property in Papua New Guinea
(PNG) in 1960. They owned it and developed their property and the
PNG cattle industry over 40 years – 1960 – 2000. While Mum was
in PNG she did a Bachelor of Economics externally through UQ. My
academic and working history is similar to Mum:
www.ava.com.au/cattle
The following morning started bright and early for milking, where we
were taking milk samples from the herd for mastitis research at the
University of Adelaide and working through the clinical cases on-farm
for the remainder of the day. The next day we spent some time on a
bull-fattening enterprise where a number of feedlot pens were being
constructed. This gave us ample opportunity to discuss management
and transition of cattle into feedlots, particularly with regard to
prevention of grain overload in a future where in-feed antimicrobials
the varying methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of trace
element deficiencies.
For the next few days we were set loose on a number of properties,
including a number of dairies with low fertility rates, sheep properties
with OJD and brucellosis concerns, and beef enterprises with
concerns about neonatal calf scours and BVDV. These visits gave us
all great opportunities to hone our skills in undertaking herd health
investigations, as well as working on our practical skills, including the
impromptu bleeding of an entire full-fleeced ram mob.
We were also fortunate enough to attend the South East chapter of the
AVA vets evening, listening to a few interesting cases and having more
than a few yarns with the folks working in practices down that way.
Our final night was spent at a Dairy Australia farmers’ night, where
we met and mingled over a few refreshments with some of the local
farmers – they were all a great bunch.
The next morning we were off bright and early (4 am) so that one of our
group could get back in time for his round of golf at the local Kapunda
am so we could drop in for a quick, nutritious brekky of steak and bacon
pies on our way home.
We would all like to thank everyone who was involved in making this
trip such a success. It was a fantastic opportunity for our group to gain
further practical and theoretical experience in herd health, get onto
farms and have chance to check out some fantastic enterprises. In
particular we would like to thank Dairy Australia for their assistance in
funding the trip, South East Vets for organising much of our food and
accommodation, and Dr. Kiro Petrovski, the man who put this entire
elective course together.
• managed the family cattle property in PNG from 1987 – 1995
after Dad was killed;
• worked in the cattle industry in the Northern Territory when I
worked for AMP Stanbroke Pastoral Company;
• I completed a Master of Business Administration through Bond
University while I was working at Whyalla Feedlot.
In her retirement Mum has written 2 books and I have had one written
about her:
• ‘Bombs to Beef’ – development of a cattle property and cattle
industry in PNG
• ‘Brus’ – book about Dad, Sir Bruce Jephcott
• ‘Missus to Lady’ – book I got written about Mum
These books are for sale - $20 plus postage. If you are interested email
me at sandibeef@gmail.com
The Australian Cattle Veterinarian | volume 77 | December 2015 39