Rookie vets get quad bike rev-up

QUAD: Some of the more than 100 Massey University vet students completing an agricultural skills component of their first year studies, learn the mysteries of the quad bike from Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre tutor David Price.

More than 100 student veterinarians have been run through their agricultural paces this month at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre.

The Massey University students stayed and worked at the centre for five days, learning a range of general farm skills that were a pre-requisite for their first year of study.

Students were taught how to move stock, drench cows, restrain and treat any cows that needed treatment, identify health problems at milking time including mastitis, and weighing and treating calves. The students also herded sheep through yards and drenched, drafted and weighed the stock, said centre spokeswoman Yvonne Way.

There was also a component of health and safety with vehicles which included attaching a trailer, loading a trailer with a static and moveable load, and vehicle checking of ATVs, tractors and motorcycles.

Students also worked with deer, cattle and horses and learnt how to handle the stock correctly, catching and leading a horse and administering injections, she said.

Steve Hannam, centre education support manager, was pleased with how the visit went.

"The students really enjoyed being on-farm and learning in our practical environment.

"This is the second year Massey University students have come to Taratahi to complete this part of their study and we enjoy having them here."