Growing up on a dairy farm taught me a multitude of things. I learned how to tie a slip knot or how to drive a tractor before I could drive a car, but above all it taught me the discipline and tenacity it takes to work in agriculture.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world around me shut down with the exception of our family dairy. Whether I wanted to or not, I took on major farm responsibilities by managing our biweekly herd checks and operating our dairy herd management software. The software was fairly easy to pick up on, but I couldn’t say the same for our herd checks. It took me several tries before truly understanding what all of the acronyms meant, and especially what gates to close after we moved into a new pen.
The standard of motivation was set incredibly high, because my dad constantly reminded me that, “The vet gets paid by the hour, so we can’t waste any time.” After a little bit of getting used to, I finally found my groove on those early Tuesday mornings. But, I can’t take all the credit.
If it wasn’t for our incredibly patient and attentive veterinarian, I don’t know how I would’ve made it through those mornings running herd check. Lucky for me, the vet clinic always sent out someone who was beyond helpful, especially because they were able to tell me which gates needed closing. I have to give special credit to Dr. Patrick for helping me out those days, especially when he reminded me to unlock the stanchions (sorry Dad!).
Dairy farmers have a special connection with the vets they work with, and they often become like family. Whether it’s a long list of pregnancy checks or a frantic midnight call, vets are known for playing an integral role on almost every dairy.
My family’s dairy works with Lander Veterinary Clinic, and they have a long-standing history in our area. Robert Cherenson, D.V.M., known to my family as Dr. Bob, is an exemplary model of the tradition and passion that Lander Veterinary Clinic is built on. Dr. Bob has worked as a veterinarian in California’s Central Valley for over 27 years. He focuses on several areas, including herd reproductive management, internal medicine, and surgery, which came in very handy for my family on a Tuesday afternoon.
Back in March while I was in a college lecture, I received a flurry of text messages in my family group chat about a cow that was having a difficult time calving. After my dad had tried to help the cow a few times, it was determined that there was nothing he could do but call the vet. After a quick phone call, Dr. Bob was on the scene and ready to help out. The birth was so strenuous for the cow, that Dr. Bob had to perform a C-section where he cut open the cow’s uterus, pulled the calf out, and sewed it back together.
Due to Dr. Bob’s miraculous surgery, this cow was back up on her feet and just a couple of months later, she’s just a normal cow in the milking string. Not only are vets outstanding because of the work that they do, but because of the passion they put toward their job. Working in agriculture takes tenacity and discipline; that can’t be found in many other industries.
Working alongside vets like Dr. Bob has inspired my family’s dairy to continuously work toward improvement. Chances are, your family dairy has their own Dr. Bob, helping make your dairy better today than it was yesterday.
Morgan Oliveira is the 2024 Hoard’s Dairyman editorial intern. She grew up working on her family’s dairy farm near Hilmar, Calif. As a student at Cal Poly University, Oliveira is majoring in agriculture communications.
