The installation will focus on the calves’ musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and internal organs. Pictured, a cow from last year's event. 

Installation to help farmers better understand their animals 

Two calves are set to receive a full body makeover this Wednesday (13 September) at UK Dairy Day in an effort to help livestock owners understand their animals.

Using non-toxic, water soluble paint, a team from Scarsdale Vets will paint various parts of the calves’ bodies to illustrate areas that are beneficial for farmers so they can identify when there might be a problem.

The bright, bold and colourful installation will focus on the calves’ musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and internal organs - all of which can be prone to problems such as nerve damage, pneumonia and bloating.

“At Scarsdale we work with over 90 dairy farms and several hundred beef farms which are run by very knowledgeable farmers, but many have experienced various problems with their cattle,” explained senior farm assistant Carolyn Baguley.

“Through our painting, we want to raise awareness of bovine anatomy, enabling farmers to use knowledge gained from our live demonstration in the day to day management of their herds. Educating about anatomy and preventative health issues will help to increase the overall health of their livestock, and it’s fantastic that we can do this visually.”

Taking place at the International Centre, Telford, UK Dairy Day 2017 will comprise of 300 trade stands, dairy cattle classes, and practical work such as foot-trimming.

Scarsdale’s demonstration will take place within the Calf Rearing Zone, with live presentations specifically at 09:30, 12:30 and 14:30, where the team will explain how the paint on the exterior can reveal what’s happening on the inside.

Image (C) Scarsdale Vets.