Dec. 21, 2012

Late in November, a semi-tractor trailer from Alberta, Canada, delivered a Holstein and her calf to the MSU Veterinary Medical Center’s Large Animal Clinic. A contest was held by students to name the cow, now called Mootilda. A Holstein Dystocia simulator model, she’s constructed of hand-laid fiberglass with steel reinforced legs and recycled plastic base by Veterinary Simulator Industries in partnership with the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine.

“MSU is the first vet school in the United States to have this bovine simulator,” says Coretta Patterson, DVM, assistant professor of internal medicine in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, and associate dean for Professional Academic Programs and Student Success. “Mootilda is anatomically correct and the calf is amazingly realistic. It moves realistically, has flexible skin, an articulated skeleton, hooves, teeth, a jaw that moves, a soft palate, tongue, and soft eye sockets. She is truly amazing.”

Dystocia, which refers to a difficult or abnormal birth, is a cause of young calf deaths. “The dystocia simulators are designed to let students practice birthing procedures before they work with live animals,” says Jennifer Roberts, DVM, assistant professor in the Department of Large Animal Science. “She is not only anatomically correct, but she and her calf are pliable so that students can practice birthing simulations like placing chains and pulling the calf.”

“We can’t schedule calving difficulties,” says Roberts. “One of the benefits of a simulator is that we can schedule training and select the type of birthing problem we want to teach. This isn’t possible on a farm or even in the Large Animal Clinic. The more proficient students become with practical skills before they perform procedures on live animals, the better.”

Delivering calves alive and healthy is the goal of calving management. Dystocia is an economic issue and an animal welfare issue.

“Mootilda allows us to provide a unique educational experience to our students—she is a great teaching tool,” says Patterson. “Our faculty will be able to train students to save lives and keep animals healthy. Our students will be more skilled veterinarians. That’s always the goal.”

In addition to anatomical correctness and pliability, the bovine simulator has an access hatch so that the calf can be positioned. She has a functioning udder that can be filled, a realistic tail, and her calf and uterus are supported by a pneumatic system. “She is also waterproof so that we can use biological materials and then clean her up,” says Patterson.

“We are excited to be leading veterinary education with this technology,” says Patterson. “When an educational tool engages students and improves the learning process—that’s a successful educational tool.”