Community gets up-close look at NDSU's animals

By Dr. Taw Scaff

Assistant Professor and Extension Swine Specialist

The Department of Animal Sciences hosted Moos, Ewes, and More on Nov. 23 at the NDSU Equine Center. Moos, Ewes, and More is a free, family-friendly outreach event showcasing the department’s faculty, staff and graduate students and how we all work together for the people and animals in North Dakota. The animals were the stars, of course.

More than 900 individuals joined us this year for this fantastic event. Upon arrival, individuals were given a drawstring bag and activity passport to fill up with the handouts and prizes from the activities.

                Participants were able to meet swine, sheep, horses and dairy cows that call NDSU home. Additionally, the farm managers who care for the animals -- and faculty and staff who teach about the animals -- engaged the community with interactive booths and fun activities. Some of these activities included “ask a veterinarian,” animal facemasks, “surgery” on stuffed animals, wagon rides, feed identification, and seeing the inside of a cow’s rumen. Santa Claus arrived from the North Pole and took note of all the Christmas wishes he received to fill his magical sleigh this year.

From all of us here at NDSU Department of Animal Sciences, we wish you all a happy holiday season and hope to see you at our events in the new year.