A life-size simulated cow and calf are enhancing veterinary students’ learning experience at The University of Queensland’s Gatton Campus.

UQ’s School of Veterinary Science senior lecturer Dr Gry Boe-Hansen is excited to welcome the state-of-the-art Canadian Holstein breed model cow and her calf to class.

“Born, bred and purchased from Veterinary Simulator Industries in Canada, our models will be used as teaching tools across a minimum of ten courses in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Bachelor of Veterinary Technology programs,” she said.

“The cow and her calf have a number of applications to help students gain essential practical skills.

“These include a complex understanding of the bovine female reproductive tract, as well as diagnosing and managing complexities during pregnancy.” 

In addition to accessing the models during class, students can also use them for self-directed learning as an extension of the School’s Student Clinical Skills Hub.

“Simulators are an innovative teaching tool to enhance learning experiences, as they allow veterinary students to become proficient in diagnostic and practical skills, building confidence in technical skills, improving the learning outcomes and reducing the impact on the live animals,” Dr Boe-Hansen said.

The School launched a competition to name the new additions, with anatomy lecturer Dr John  Wright given the prestigious honour of naming the model cow and calf.

“The cow has been named Mrs O’Leary and the calf is Charlene Mooken or ‘Moo’ for short, after two history making cows from the USA,” Dr Boe-Hansen said.

“Mrs O’Leary is the famous cow of Catherine O'Leary, blamed for causing the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 after kicking over a lantern in her stable.

“While the fire did start in the O’Leary’s barn, investigators never determined the true cause of the fire, and it was later revealed that the cow story was ‘fake news’ made up by a journalist.

“I’m hoping this Mrs O’Leary will be just as famous but for the right reasons – helping our vet students thrive and learn critical new skills.”

The calf has been named after a fugitive cow that gained fame in 2002 when she leaped over a fence at an abattoir in Cincinnati and spent 11 days on the run before she was rounded up and lived out the rest of her days on a farm. 

The Holstein cow and calf simulator model was purchased as part of a teaching and learning grant, awarded in 2018 by UQ’s Faculty of Science.

Image above: Fourth year Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) students improving their skills with cow simulator, Mrs O’Leary.

Media: Dr Gry Boe-Hansen, g.boehansen@uq.edu.au, +61 7 5460 1857; Dominic Jarvis, dominic.jarvis@uq.edu.au, +61 413 334 924.