Kenya say “ng'ombe” (cow in Swahili)!

 by Molly Park

My first time learning about Farmers Helping Farmers and hearing Dr. John VanLeeuwen talk about working in Kenya was September 2024, at the SJDAWC Symposium at the AVC, when I hadn’t yet sent in my application for veterinary school. I remember being in awe of the great amount of courage and altruism it takes to do such international work. Looking back, I don’t think the eager undergraduate student in me would have ever imagined that almost two years later, I’d be packing my bags to help do the very work Dr. VanLeeuwen described.

An example of the friendly faces we’re greeted with every day

Since the start of the summer break, fellow vet student Marika Wesselius and I have been helping Dr. Essau Serem complete the final step of his zero-grazing trial study for his PhD through UPEI. Our role is to perform physical exams on the dairy cows seen during the initial farm visits last year, do a California mastitis test if they’re lactating and pregnancy checks if they’ve been bred and conduct stall assessments.

Serem, Molly, Marika (the dream team) and their signature pink bucket

Over the past few weeks of visiting smallholder dairy farms, I have grown a deeper appreciation for how important these farms, and dairy cows, are to the wider community of Meru County and to the families who rely on them both financially and nutritionally. At each farm, we’re greeted by not only owners, but parents, grandparents, siblings, children, neighbours, and sometimes other furry friends!

Not only do we deworm cows, but we also give flea/tick medication to dogs and puppies we find on farms

They’ve all welcomed us with open arms and seem eager to hear the recommendations we give to help improve milk production and cow comfort, and prevent common health issues, such as mastitis. Although we may not speak the same language, we all have the same goal of creating community and improving the welfare and production of their dairy cows.

A zero-grazing intervention farm that took on many of the recommendations from last summer

It’s been a privilege being able to learn from Dr. VanLeeuwen, Dr. Essau Serem, and Marika (who grew up on a dairy farm). Although I’ve worked on dairy farms in PEI, there are so many milestones I’ve hit in my short time in Kenya. For instance, here is a list of things I have done for the first time: doing rectal palpation for cow pregnancy, administering a cow magnet, dehorning a mature cow using Gigli wire, and directly assisting with a calving.

One of many rectal palpations

Experiences I wouldn’t have been able to do without the help of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program, UPEI and Farmers Helping Farmers. Every day, I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn from everyone I meet during my time in Kenya.

See you next time,

Molly

#QEScholar