Calving Simulator
SRUC Theatre: 9:30am; 10:00am; 11:00am; 1:30pm
Booking required, limited to 6 places per session. Please join the 9:30am introduction to sign-up for one of the 45 minute simulator sessions. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and may be available after the intro session – enquire at the SRUC Theatre in the main hall.
For the first time at the Smallholder Festival, cattle keepers will be able to hone their calving skills with experts from SRUC Veterinary Services, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and a lifelike Calving Simulator.
The Festival is the only place in Scotland that this experience is currently available to smallholders.
About the calving simulator
Join Caroline Robinson, an SRUC Vet, and Jayne Orr from University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine to practice evaluating your cow, and then learn how to either gently and effectively assist a calving, or how to feel for the signs that you should be making a prompt call to the vet.
Featuring an almost UnHerd-of public appearance by Cow No? and Deja Moo, two life sized, partial fibreglass cow models with an anatomically correct pelvis, inflatable air bags to mimic abdominal organs, a vinyl uterus and a life sized fully articulated model calf!
About the session
Jayne Orr graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary School in 2005. She spent 8 years working in private practice as a farm animal vet in the UK and New Zealand before returning to the University of Glasgow as a farm animal lecturer. She recently completed a Master’s degree which investigated the use of simulation to teach veterinary students how to calve cows.
Caroline Robinson has worked for SRUC Veterinary Services as a Veterinary Investigation Officer since 2011, following 5 years in mixed practice. She has always had a keen interest in facilitating and providing animal health and welfare information to smallholders, and has enthusiastically supported the Festival since its inception.