A simulated cow will soon make a real difference to Olds College students.
Lucy, a bovine simulator complete with a calf named Lou, was unveiled to staff and students during the Cattleman’s College educational series on Wednesday.
Dean of agriculture Tanya McDonald said the lifelike, anatomically correct machine will give students in the agricultural management and animal health technology programs important clinical skills and experience despite their day-to-day participation in working with the college’s cow/calf herd.
“We can have a calf born multiple times a day and simulate a number of different calving problems. They wouldn’t get that experience with real cows.”
Reducing stress for live cows is another benefit.
“Because of animal welfare concerns, we’re hearing more interest and movement towards increasing regulations and recommendations to replace live animals with simulators.”
The machine was built by Calgary-based Veterinary Simulator Industries. It was developed with the help of Dr. Gordon Krebs from the University of Calgary’s veterinary school, which has two similar machines.
The $36,000 purchase was made with funding from UFA Co-operative.
“We’ve been working with Olds College for over 30 years,” said Ron Schinnour, UFA’s vice-president of agribusiness.
“This was an idea that has come forward and we worked with them very effectively to get it put into place.”
McDonald hopes there’s a future for other simulators at Olds College.
“The college is very interested in cat, dog and small-animal simulators as well.”