Sheep Handling DOPS
The sheep handling DOPS (Directly Observed Procedural Skills) was the first DOPS assessment that I had passed in Foundation phase and was the one that provided me the most useful feedback. I completed the assessment at Cochno farm under the supervision of George King.
Reflective Commentary
Of the large animal DOPS assessments, I was the most nervous for the sheep DOPS. Sheep handling was a weak point for me because sheep farming is not popular where I’m from, and I was far less comfortable catching and casting sheep going in to the assessment than I would have liked. Ultimately, I did pass the DOPS, but my performance betrayed my inexperience with sheep.
My assessor told me that I stood too close to the center of the pen, and that I should be more confident when I go to catch a ewe. While I was able to catch and cast a ewe, it took me a couple of tries and many laps around the pen. The sheep were agitated to begin with, and chasing them around didn’t improve the situation. Once I was able to grab a ewe, casting and aging her went much better.
I learned that when attempting to catch a ewe out of a flock in a small pen, I should stand slightly closer to one side to give the sheep a “safe space” to run to. When they move to run by me, I can reach out and catch one by the chin. Additionally, if I’m trying to catch a specific ewe, I can use points of balance to manipulate her into the middle of a group of ewes, where she won’t be able to escape from quickly. When I do this confidently, I find that it’s easier and quicker to catch the ewe I’m looking for.
Being able to catch, cast, and examine sheep quickly helps reduce their stress [1], so I aspire to improve my efficiency at these skills as well as I can. Since passing my sheep handling DOPS, I have completed two weeks of lambing EMS. This experience has vastly improved my sheep handling skills, and I can now confidently catch and cast sheep.
[1] Yardimci, M., Sahin, E., Cetingul, I., Bayram, I., Aslan, R., & Sengor, E. (2013). Stress responses to comparative handling procedures in sheep. Animal, 7(1), 143-150. doi:10.1017/S1751731112001449
Intended Learning Outcomes Satisfied
1. Communication Skills – I communicated with a qualified veterinarian and provided a verbal explanation of the age of a ewe based on her dentition.
2. Independent and Collaborative Learning – To prepare for my sheep handling assessment, I worked in a group and on my own to practice catching, casting, and aging sheep.
3. Safety – I learned how to safely catch a sheep in a group pen and to set her in a semi-comfortable position for examination. Learning this skill improves the safety of the handling process for both myself and the sheep.
4. Animal Handling – By passing this assessment, I proved that I can competently catch a ewe in a group pen, caste her on her tail, and determine her age. These handling skills are very relevant for lambing EMS and clinical work.
8. Animal Body Systems – I studied the dentition of ewes to be able to determine their age. I learned the appropriate appearance of a ewes teeth from when she is a year old to when she’s four years old and onward.
10. Ethics and Welfare – Handling sheep efficiently and causing as little stress as possible greatly improves their welfare, so preparing for the sheep handling DOPS improved my ability as a vet from both a welfare and ethical standpoint.
14. Professionalism – During the assessment, I handled myself professionally. I was respectful of the sheep and of my assessor's opinions. I accepted the feedback I was given well, both positive and negative.
16. Reflection – I spent a lot of time reflecting on the results of my DOPS by myself and with my friends. This helped me understand what to improve on when I went to my lambing placement.
Documentary Evidence
Attached is my sheep handling DOPS feedback.