Hannah Arnush / Roundup
Pierce College welcomed thirty new kids this month and is expecting about 18 more from a dozen pregnant does.
Currently the 226-acre farm contains between 40-50 does and bucks. Does are females goats, bucks are male goats and kids are newborn goats.
Goats are litter-bearing animals that generally give birth to about two to three kids at a time. At 6-weeks-old, when they are weaned, the bucks are given away and only the best of the does are kept.
The farm also accommodates sheep, cattle, and horses.
“The animals are great for students to have hands-on experience,” said Dr. Leland Shapiro, director of the pre-veterinary program. “A person can read a book on how to give a sheep a shot but they will not know how to do it correctly until they get hands on experience with the animals.”
In just the past few months, four lambs were born and three more ewes, female adult sheep, are expecting within the next few months.
Like the goats, the male sheep are given away after castration. The horses and cows reproduce by controlled breeding or artificial insemination.
All of the animals are used for educational purposes in the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) program, the Pre-Veterinary program, Animal Sciences, Horse Sciences and the Agriculture Department.
Stephanie Dennis, a Pre-Veterinary student at Pierce, said her favorite part of the program is “the opportunity I get to work with the animals. The level of passion and enthusiasm the students have helps the classroom environment.”
In a survey with 16 RVT students, four out of five said they feel like they get enough hands on experience with the animals.
Once a year at Pierce the Agriculture Department holds “Farm Walk” which is basically an open house on the farm.
Around 5,000 to 8,000 people show up to see the animals, land and programs offered every year.
Paddy Warner, instructor of equine science said “it’s going to be a big year. We put on a huge performance for the school, there will be cowboy mounted action shooters, barrel racing, jumping, reigning and dressage. For more information on “Farm Walk” go to www.piercecollege.edu/departments/agriculture.
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A kid rests with it’s mother after being born on the farm just two days before. (Victor Stephen Kamont / Roundup)
