Monday 19 September 2011

In Vet School, We Watch Grass Grow

Our agronomy professor lost favour with me.

He sprung a little field trip on us. The day before two major anatomy exams. He had no interest in rescheduling, was kind of a dick about it actually. He insisted it would be mandatory and that there would be a roll (there wasn't). I suppose it might have been alright if it was a really good trip, but this is what happened:

We got on some grungy old buses, drove out to a little farm, and then stared at grass for four hours. Four. The professor waffled on about the pasture, and got the farmer to waffle on about farming, and we literally walked to a paddock or two and looked at the grass, while they talked about grass. The farmer's dog got the most attention out of all of them.

The professor's credibility got seriously undermined within the first twenty minutes by this gem of an exchange...

Prof: What do the vets do?
Farmer: They are involved with animal health, preventive care, calving problems.
Prof: What about the pasture? Do they help with pasture management?
Farmer: No, I have a farm consultant for that.