Story & Photos by Sal Gomez

A Spanish language herdsman school was recently held to discuss downer cows and animal welfare issues. It was organized by Valley Vet Clinic in Tulare, California, for its clients’ Hispanic employees. The short course took place at the UC – Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center. The event was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. The presentations and demonstrations were given by Cedric Blanc with Valley Vet; Jorge Noricumbo, quality milk manager with Pfizer Animal Health; and Dr. Jim Reynolds with UC – Davis. More than 100 people attended the short course. Approximately 90 of them were Hispanic herdsmen or managers, with most attendees coming from Tulare County and the rest from the surrounding counties of Kern and Kings County.

Educating dairy employees and producers on the prevention of downer cows and properly handling and euthanizing downer cows was Valley Vet’s main goal. Course certificates were given to attendees after completing the short course. Milk producers will get a certificate from UC – Davis to show they complied with university requirements. PD

Above: A Hispanic manager and his assistant learn how to properly euthanize cows and calves.

Above: About 90 producers and herdsmen from the surrounding area attentively watch animal welfare presentations.