Caleb went on his 2nd grade field trip to the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, this is also where Matt works. The EOARC did an excellent job, they had 7 stations where the kids learned about soil properties, erosion, using a GPS, cow behavior, how plants grow and the most talked about the cannulated steer named Pincushion. When the cow was about 6 months they inserted a surgical fistula with a cannula inserted that allows for a permanent opening to the cows stomach. The steer is now 11 years old. This has allowed the scientists to better study what cows select to eat, the quality of their diet, measure microbial digestibility of plant and feed material. They let all of the kids actually put their hand in (with a glove) and feel inside the stomach. We heard about this when we moved in and thought it was a joke but it is true. Caleb is proof. I thought it was so great for the school to be able to take advantage of such a valuable resource in the area and learn. It was fun to spend the day with Caleb and learn so much.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Meet Pincushion (The Steer)
Caleb went on his 2nd grade field trip to the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, this is also where Matt works. The EOARC did an excellent job, they had 7 stations where the kids learned about soil properties, erosion, using a GPS, cow behavior, how plants grow and the most talked about the cannulated steer named Pincushion. When the cow was about 6 months they inserted a surgical fistula with a cannula inserted that allows for a permanent opening to the cows stomach. The steer is now 11 years old. This has allowed the scientists to better study what cows select to eat, the quality of their diet, measure microbial digestibility of plant and feed material. They let all of the kids actually put their hand in (with a glove) and feel inside the stomach. We heard about this when we moved in and thought it was a joke but it is true. Caleb is proof. I thought it was so great for the school to be able to take advantage of such a valuable resource in the area and learn. It was fun to spend the day with Caleb and learn so much.
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2 comments:
Kinda creepy but that's really cool. Did you get to say hello to Matt while there?
Gnarly! I just watched a think on the Discovery Channel about an identical operation done on a cow down in Georgia. Too weird (but I bet pretty awesome for the boys!)
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