Cadets learn from the best
Waipaoa stock manager, Dave Stuart (Left) along with senior and junior cadets listen to the master.
What better way to spend a wet day than to have one of the country's leaders in veterinary science to teach us the finer points of cattle and sheep management. Trevor Cook (center) a veterinary consultant from Manawatu was kind enough to take a day out of his busy schedule and spend it with the Waipaoa cadets. Topics included; ewe and lamb management for increased production, condition scoring, animal health including an extensive insight into internal parasite management, and management policies for increased productivity. After a morning session in the lecture room discussing cattle and sheep management, Trevor, Dave Stuart (Waipaoa's stock manager) and the cadets went out on the farm where the cadets were given a lesson on how to condition score ewes. Through-out the day the cadets were astounded at the knowledge that Mr Cook was able to impart and later reported that Mr Cook was one of the most clever people they had ever met. Mr Cook's visit was part of a progression strategy to strengthen the already proven Waipaoa training model. The aim is to give cadets exposure to industry leaders who use and promote proven techniques of farming in order to give them the best possible start to their farming careers. The best thing of all is that the next day cadets load up vehicles, saddle the horses and ride off to work where they are able to put theory into practice with the Waipaoa training staff.