The Power of a Cow

The phrase ‘But you’re not a real Doctor” is one that every veterinarian has no doubt heard within their career. I’m only a student, yet if I had a dollar for every time I’d heard it I’d probably be able to pay off my student loans!

What this question suggests is that there is something inherently more valuable about the role of a veterinarian in comparison to a human physician. You may be thinking right now ‘of course, a human’s life is more important than a dogs.’ On this point I would be forced to agree with you. If I had to choose between giving life saving medication to a small child or to a kitten, the child would win out every time, regardless of how cute the kitten was or how adorable its little tiny paws were. This scenario is a convincing one, however it fails to capture the true nature of what a veterinarian is. A veterinarian’s role does not end with their patient; after all, a horse can’t use an ATM!

In all seriousness, the animals that we treat are not individual entities. They are members of families, sporting partners, loved and loving companions, and for many people around the world they provide a livelihood. The production of food and fibre from animals is an essential part about what makes us human. The value of these animals is the reason why veterinarians came about in the first place – the word veterinarius in latin means ‘having to do with beasts of burden’. For many veterinarians, these ‘beasts of burden’ make up the majority of their work and they can have a huge impact upon the lives of the people whose animals they work with. This is my story about how these veterinarians can change lives, and why not being a ‘real doctor’ doesn’t change the impact we can make.

When I had completed my first year of study at university I was fortunate to be involved with an Australian Government project in Pakistan. Our project was a part of a larger project linking agricultural expertise between the two nations, facilitating an exchange of information across experts in mango farming, citrus farming, and our area of focus, dairy. Dairy farming in Pakistan is significantly different to what you may have seen or imagine a dairy farm as. Instead of mechanical milking machines and large black-and-white cows roaming rolling green hills, the majority of Pakistani dairy is produced by small-holder farmers. These farmers own 2-5 cattle, and provide the sole income of the farmer and their family.

With some fellow students and lecturers I joined a team of Pakistani veterinarians in working to educate farmers on how to produce more milk from their animals. The veterinarians had been working for a number of years to share the best information available with farmers, covering areas of nutrition, hygiene, milking techniques, calf rearing and much more. This allowed farmers to produce more milk from their cows, which made more money for them and their families.

I met with one man after a farmers meeting in the village square who, through some help with a translator, shared with me how the project had changed his life. Azeem told me about how he was the father of three children. A boy aged 9, a girl aged 5, and a girl aged 3. Before he started receiving the information and training from the project he was only able to produce enough milk from his two buffalo cross cows to feed his family. He was no longer able to pay for his son’s education, so the young boy had begun working to harvest crops on the family plot.

With the help of the project he had made some changes to how he managed his cows; he allowed them free access to water, changed his milking technique, and prioritised looking after his calves. These changes meant that he made more milk and made more money. He was also able to sell his next two calves for enough money so that he could save up for a third cow.

As huge as this impact was, the effects on his family were far more profound than a few extra litres of milk. The extra money paid for his son to return to school, with the writing equipment that he needed. It also paid for his daughter to begin her education without the risk that it would be cut short like her brother’s had nearly been.

Azeem’s story is just one example of the massive influence that animals, and veterinarians have on the lives of people. Staying at this village for the afternoon allowed me to see students return from school, and it was clear that this one family was just a small part of a the greater effect that the team in Pakistan was having. Education may be the great equaliser, but equipping people to achieve an education is the real game-changer, and its an area that veterinarians are trained and equipped to play a part in.

There was a definite home-ground advantage here…

P.S.  Of course I had to have a game of cricket with these school children! If you could call getting bowled out for a duck ‘having a game’