Veterinary Class Visits Alpaca Farm

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Veterinary students enrolled in a small ruminant production, management, medicine and surgery course at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently visited an alpaca farm in Guthrie, Okla.

Rock’n D Enterprises owned by Mr. Bobby and Mrs. Dianne Dickerson welcomed 15 sophomore veterinary students along with instructors Drs. Melanie Boileau and Lionel Dawson. Activities included a walk-through of the farm pens, hands-on halter placement, basic physical exams, body condition scoring, vaccinations and toe nail trims. Students also had an opportunity to discuss shearing and handling of fiber collected for show and clothing purposes and nutrition and management of the dung pile for overall health of the herd.

“This is the second year Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have committed toward our students’ education and hands-on learning experience,” said Boileau. “We appreciate it very much.”

OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital sees approximately 50 camelid (alpaca, llama, camel) cases a year. The small ruminant course is an elective for second year veterinary students who are interested in learning more about sheep, goat, and camelid veterinary medicine.