Prof. Taika von Königslöw and grad student Tyler Ward position the calf inside the teaching cow to prepare for a birth simulation. (Sreang Hok / Cornell University) Campus & Beyond Lessons in Large-Animal Medicine—From a Fiberglass Cow Stories You May Like Cornell Vets Went to Westminster—and Came Back with Photos! Minnie to the Max! CVM’s Beloved Mini Horse Is a Big Red Star Veterinary Specialists Help Furry Patients Get Back on their Paws With a new simulator, vet students can practice delivering a calf in a realistic (but lower-stakes) way; all that’s missing is the ‘moo’ By Melissa Newcomb Three veterinary students stand behind a cow in labor as the farmer who owns her paces around nearby, anxiously awaiting the outcome. First, the students work together to assess how the calf is positioned inside her mother, so they can determine how best to assist with the birth. The students correct the position of the limbs and head before carefully placing chains around two legs and a loop behind the ears to help pull the baby out. With a gentle tug, the calf is born and the students celebrate, equal parts happy and relieved. Fourth-year student Kate Loonie feels for the calf's legs during a simulation. It might be a typical day on a farm—except that neither the cow nor the calf is real. They’re life-sized models, recently acquired by the Vet College, that Taika von Königslöw uses to instruct fourth-year students. (Their names? Birtha and Decalf—punny monikers gleaned through a naming competition.) The models are made of fiberglass, silicone, steel, and plastic; the calf weighs 85 pounds (a realistic weight) and has an articulated skeleton. The calf birth in progress. “There’s so much value in letting students practice in a low-stress scenario where we can pause at any time to talk it through, without being worried about how long we’re taking to get the calf out,” observes von Königslöw, an assistant professor of ambulatory and production medicine. As in life, some births are easier than others. Von Königslöw sets up various scenarios by opening a panel on the cow’s side and positioning the calf in ways that present different challenges. Then she lets the students work through it together, providing guidance when necessary. There’s so much value in letting students practice in a low-stress scenario where we can pause at any time to talk it through. Prof. Taika von Königslöw “If you feel one of the calf’s front and back legs, what might that mean?” von Königslöw asks as the students reach into the cow one by one—wearing long veterinary exam gloves that stretch up to the shoulder. As the students correctly respond: it could mean the calf is sideways or that it may have deformities. “It also could mean there are twins,” she adds. “Sometimes you’ll feel a bunch of legs—and have to sort out what’s going on in there!” Stories You May Like Cornell Vets Went to Westminster—and Came Back with Photos! Minnie to the Max! CVM’s Beloved Mini Horse Is a Big Red Star Lessons in post-birth care, featuring Decalf. At the end of the scenario, von Königslöw congratulates the students, then opens the panel to show how the calf was positioned, so they can evaluate if their hypotheses were correct. Beyond having students interact with the two models, the sessions aim to simulate a real-life situation through the presence of a human client. That nervous “farmer”? He’s Tyler Ward, a first-year PhD student who’s researching the efficacy of these types of exercises in teaching clinical skills. So far, students have found the hands-on training to be (sorry, we can’t help ourselves) udder-ly valuable. “This gives us a realistic way to learn these life-saving skills,” says fourth-year Kate Loonie, “so we’re better prepared for when it’s real.” This gives us a realistic way to learn these life-saving skills so we’re better prepared for when it’s real. Fourth-year vet student Kate Loonie Since Birtha and Decalf debuted in September 2024, they’ve been used by more than two dozen students in small groups. By the end of the academic year, all 126 members of the Class of ’25 will have undergone the experiential training. And the pair doesn’t just provide birthing lessons. For example, the cow has a functional udder that can be used for training in preparation for milking, taking clean milk samples, and identifying infections like mastitis. Students can also practice doing physical exams, resuscitating the calf, and employing different restraint methods. Fourth-year Jennifer Jeong (left) receives instruction from von Königslöw. For fourth-year student Jennifer Jeong, encountering a case in the field underscored the simulator’s value. Just days before the classroom training, she helped deliver a calf during an obstructed labor. Says Jeong: “This was very similar to the real-life situation.” Top: Prof. Taika von Königslöw and grad student Tyler Ward position the calf inside the teaching cow to prepare for a birth simulation. (All photos by Sreang Hok / Cornell University.) Published December 6, 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. 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