Externship Grant Report
My externship with Matamata Veterinary Services in Matamata, New Zealand was divided into two weeks with the farm animal service, followed by one week with GlenBred, which is their small animal reproductive service. I am very thankful that they were willing and able to provide the flexibility for me to see both their large animal and small animal services, as my primary interest is in comparative theriogenology and finding one practice which would allow me to see both was very rare.
During my two weeks with the farm animal service, I assisted with twelve dystocias, including varying degrees of uterine torsion, malposition of the fetus, uterine inertia, insufficient cervical dilation, one ovine dystocia, and a fetal schistozome which was removed via caesarian section. Even though it was calving season for most farms, there were a few herds which required pregnancy diagnosis. I also participated in management of peri-parturient diseases such as metritis/endometritis, post-calving paralysis, and hypocalcemia. I was particularly interested in their use of intrauterine antibiotics (Metricure) for the management of endometritis, as, given that this is not available in the United States, I had not previously seen this treatment approach. Matamata Veterinary Services provides reproductive planning meetings as part of their herd management package, and I was able to participate in four of these conversations. I really enjoyed these meetings, as they helped me gain a much better understanding of dairying in New Zealand. It was particularly interesting to become more acquainted with the reproductive management techniques employed to maintain the herd seasonally, since all herds in New Zealand are dependent on pastures for grazing as opposed to confinement feeding. Understandably, the vast majority of our cases were related to reproduction, but we also saw cases of Lepto, BVD, Johne’s disease, facial eczema, lameness (white line disease, toe ulcers), Salmonellosis. I am most proud of the fact that I developed the skill to reliably pass a pipette through the cervix – this was primarily done to administer Metricure in our suspected endometritis cases.
While shadowing during my final week on the GlenBred side of the practice, I was able to participate in three canine semen collections/evaluations, two transcervical inseminations, a feline caesarian section, reproductive management via monitoring of progesterone/vaginal cytology, and intentionally delaying the onset of estrus via the administration of mibolerone.
This experience provided wonderful hands-on experience with the reproductive management of multiple species. I am thankful to the veterinarians at Matamata Veterinary Services for their patient and supportive encouragement as well as the grant committee for their consideration of my externship grant request.
