BDA Hosts Veterinary Students from MS State
A couple weeks ago, we had the fun opportunity to teach the regenerative agriculture to a group of 3rd- and 4th-year veterinary students from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine! Dr. Allen Williams, our farm advisor and founding partner of Understanding Ag, LLC. took the students around the farm, explaining the main principles of regenerative agriculture and its effect on land and livestock.
Dr. Allen says the event was a big hit with the students - “The faculty surveyed the students, and the response was unanimously positive! They have asked to be able to routinely bring students down for additional learning opportunities.”
Why should vet students learn about regenerative farming?
Regenerative principles are gaining ground in the ag community and beyond. More than 33 million acres of farmland and ranchland across the U.S. are now being managed regeneratively by Understanding Ag. The emphasis carries over into the business and consumer world as well. Consumers are expressing more interest in eating food that has been produced regeneratively. Dr. Allen also notes: "Major food and fiber companies have now expressed significant interest in, and are either already committed to, regenerative initiatives or are moving in that direction. The USDA is also working on regenerative initiatives.” To top it off, cutting-edge nutritional research is revealing the distinct advantages of foods produced from healthy soils.
Because veterinarians are on the leading forefront of animal health and welfare, and with the emerging emphasis on regenerative agriculture, “it is crucial that veterinary school faculty and students be fully exposed to regenerative farming principles and practices,” says Dr. Allen.
Curious Questions
The students mentioned to Dr. Allen that BDA Farm was very different from other farms they had been to, so naturally they had a lot of questions! Here’s a ‘short’ list, and we have a few blog posts and FAQs that address some of these questions already, if you’re also curious:
Why does BDA Farm have so much grass compared to other farms?
What type of vaccination and herd health program do we have in place?
What is the principal diet of our cattle, pigs and chickens?
Why do we emphasize soil health, and what constitutes soil health?
Why do we breed and calve when we do?
What is our winter supplementation program?
What role do epigenetics and genetic selection play in the cattle, pigs and chickens?
Life-Changing Impact?
In speaking with MS State faculty after the visit, Dr. Allen shared the following:
I have already received feedback from the veterinary faculty who brought the 3rd and 4th year veterinary medicine students to the farm. These students are in their clinical rotations and what they are exposed to now is crucial to their future direction. The faculty surveyed the students who attended, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
[The students] felt that what they learned at BDA was quite important and showed a different side of agriculture. They all felt the visit was a valuable investment of their time and educational dollars.
I talked specifically to them about potential career opportunities in regen ag for veterinary professionals and they were quite receptive. This visit opened their eyes to the emerging opportunities in regen ag and what their future careers may involve.
The faculty were so impressed with the visit and what the students learned that we have been asked to routinely host veterinary school students.
Needless to say, we are definitely excited to welcome back the MS State Veterinary Medicine program in the future!
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