By Steve Ohmes, Assistant Farmpark Administrator
Visitors to Farmpark can milk a cow, visit baby animals, see a sheep being shorn and interact with a horse. There is more than just cleaning up after the animals and feeding them that makes the animal program possible. We have a staff of dedicated individuals who tend to all aspects of the animals’ needs while keeping up with industry standards.
Livestock care is constantly evolving with technology and research. With this information, farmers and ranchers can provide a safe product to consumers and develop the best practices for animal care. Farmpark has an animal care policy that outlines standard procedures and care of our animals. Our staff meets with our veterinarian at monthly meetings to address our concerns and conduct herd health checks. Staff and veterinarians are always on call in the event a health issue arises so that it can be addressed quickly.
Nutrition is key to healthy animals. Our equine and livestock staff constantly monitor the body conditions of our livestock and horses and make adjustments as needed. The staff routinely communicates with nutritionists to make sure the animal’s dietary needs are met. Meeting with professionals in the feed industry not only ensures that we provide the correct feed, it gives our staff a chance to learn and keep up with current information on feeding the livestock and horses.
We make every effort to participate in as much training as possible. Through off-site seminars, webinars and reading articles our staff takes every learning opportunity available to them. We have staff members certified in quality assurance programs, which helps us evaluate and grow our livestock and equine care policies.
As you can see, taking care of animals is more than just feeding and cleaning. As you visit the Farmpark, look for some of the animal care activities taking place. Feel free to ask some questions—perhaps you may find an interest in animal care, animal nutrition or the veterinary field.