Cattle Handling Facility Improvements at the Warren Wilson College Farm The College Farm has kept a herd of cattle since it’s inception in the 1890’s. The cattle

herd provides healthy, local protein for the College community as well as providing valuable ecosystem services by grazing the College’s pasture lands. Proper animal husbandry dictates working the full herd several times per year to administer vaccines, determine if an animal is pregnant, gather animal weights, and provide parasite protection. These days provide some of the most intensive work learning experiences for the students who have chosen to work on the Farm Crew. Working cattle in the corral provides hands on Pre­Veterinary, Agricultural, and Animal Science experience, as well as providing students an opportunity to expand their skills in situational awareness, leadership, teamwork, observation, and the physical skills of low­stress animal handling. The headgate that we are operating now is an unsafe piece of equipment. Our current cattle handling system is aging rapidly, and a continuing commitment to workplace safety and showcasing best practices compels us to pursue these necessary upgrades.

The installation and continuing use of a new squeeze chute will provide ample opportunity for the College Farm to serve the Farm Crew, on­campus community, and off­campus community partners. Current best practices for handling cattle dictate the use of a squeeze chute to help hold cattle still while they are receiving medical care. Studies have shown that a gentle squeeze (much like a weighted blanket for an autistic person) calms cattle in the chute; preventing injury to both the animal and the handler as well as preserving meat quality. The best cattle handling chutes provide multiple access points for administering veterinary care safely, as well as protecting farmers or veterinarians from injuries caused by the animal kicking or swinging their head. Our current headgate does not provide this protection.

By providing an improved corral, we will be more able to send graduates into the world who are well versed in best practices in animal husbandry. The College has been making efforts to promote our pre­veterinary courses in response to high praise of our programs by both alumni who went on to veterinary school as well as the veterinary schools themselves. We stand poised to best make use of the tremendous resources that the Farm program offers when used in conjunction with an excellent academic program.

Alumnus Hannah Fearing, DVM, sums up how important her experience on the Warren Wilson College Farm was to her when she entered Veterinary School;

“WWC may not produce as many vets as other schools, but it equipped me for vet school and veterinary medicine better than many of my peers. After working on the farm I felt comfortable working with a variety of animals safely. I got to see multiple veterinary procedures, help with regular care and husbandry of animals, and learn to manage a large group of animals. It taught me how to relate to farmers and understand the financial and practical aspects of farming that will be so important to my clients later in my career. Besides all of that practical stuff, it taught me more general skills like teamwork, patience, time management, and the value of hard, honest work.”