Mongolian Herder Veterinarian Training

As part of the Autumn project for herders, we reached out to herder families in their winter grazing areas, and conducted preliminary medical checkup and Medical First Responders Training at remote Bag centers, alongside providing First Aid Kits. We worked in Uvurkhangai and Bulgan Provinces.  

During medical checkup, we brought endoscopic ultrasound equipment and EKG equipment, and performed preliminary examinations along with sonography and electrocardiogram assessments for 158 herders from 129 respective families. The professionals, sonographer E.Khishigjargal and EKG technician L. Altantuya worked diligently and gave professional guidance to herders regarding their medical conditions and recommended next steps for treatment while paramedic Sashane J.O provided medical screening. In some cases, our physicians taught herders back and muscle cramp relief exercises to reduce their back pain and tightened muscles. During the medical screening and EKG, many herders discovered that they suffered high blood pressure (above 140 and more) and were advised to take this condition seriously, start taking blood pressure medication and cut back on certain diets.

More than 158 herders took part in the Medical First Responders Training at two different Bag centers of Burd Soum, Uvurkhangai Province. Paramedic Sashane J.O with his team of four ran the training effectively paired with presentation and practical training. We distributed First Aid Kits with handbooks to 68 herder families. Teaching herders the improvised way of first aid equipment or items was effective as they live remote and unable to carry first aid kits in the animal grazing areas daily. Overall, organizing Medical First Responders training for herder families in remote areas, as well as providing them with First Aid Kits, significantly enhance their ability to respond to medical emergencies. 

Engaging with herder communities in the most vital time of the year ensures that the medical outreach is relevant and accessible. 

Warm greetings and heartfelt thanks to our generous donors! Your support has made our project possible and has enabled us to reach out to herders in remote areas. Your contributions have made a significant impact, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to helping those in need. Together, we are making a difference!

Herders needed our help the most. Spring was protracted after a harsh winter with natural challenges one after another. Most parent livestock were suffering from malnutrition. Thus, newborns were at a great risk of losing their lives due to lack of laceration and feeding. 

The winter was so heartbreaking and arduous that over 380 herder families lost their livestocks completely and approximately 2,700 herder households lost 70 percent of their livestock which their lives and sustainability entirely depended on. Therefore, over 5,2 million livestock died in the harsh weather and natural challenges despite the care and hardwork of the herders. The worst hit provinces were Khentii, Dornod, Dornogobi, Arkhangai, Tuv and Dundgobi. Out of those provinces, Steppe and Hoof implemented a spring veterinary outreach program, concentrating on herders in Arkhangai province to support them to get back on their feet firmly during the calving season and offer assistance to recover well from the Dzud (uncontrollable harsh weather and severe cold with lack of pasture, food for animals). We reached 70 herder families with free veterinary service and substantial support in five different Bags of Tsenkher Soum, Arkhangai province, and treated about 63 sick animals cattle, horses, sheep, goats and several yaks for 16 families. Over 3740 newborns of 28 families were given shots with Selenium as well as vitamin E shots and essential supplements. Therefore, we delivered veterinary medicine packages to herder families at their spring pastures. 

Our project team with head vet D.Ochirbat alongside twelve senior year students from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Life Science, ran a successful and complex veterinary outreach program in Tsenkher Soum, Arkhangai Province. Malnutrition in livestocks was one of the most pressing problems during calving season as the veterinary service had to overcome considerable obstacles to gain access. Newborns and parent animals were treated with necessary supplements and solutions under the supervision of vet Ochirbat while a free veterinary medicine package was supplied together with instruction by the vet. 

During the project, senior veterinary students stayed with herders families, and helped them with husbandry and receiving newborns. Meanwhile, vet D.Ochirbat conducted essential veterinary service and treatment in the Bag area, traveling over 100 to 250 kilometers each day.  

During our spring outreach program, 50 herder families received veterinary medicine packages as well as professional advice and oral and written instruction. The package consisted of terramycin and oxytetracycline wound spray, Penbex Solution, Multi vitamin 100 ml, three pieces of Vitamin E-Se, 100 ml, two pieces Ivermectin 100 ml, two pieces of Amoxvit 100 mg, Mobi Dust 100 ml ad Cypermethrin 10 EC 1 liter, 7.5% Iodine 300 ml, Intramammary ointment 10 ml tubes, an eye drop 10ml, Amilyte C 500ml, Albendizol 10%, subsidiary needles, syringes and a handbook for veterinary medicines’ proper use. 

The following veterinary medicines are commonly used to prevent and treat topical infections such as lacerations and abrasions, wound dehiscence, dermatitis and foot rot, and administered as antibiotic supplements, to boost immunization, fight ticks and eliminate ectoparasite spread and its damage in herds, and treat infections such as equine and cattle flu which is big issue among herds in spring. All medications were delivered with special care and sophisticated instruction on the proper usage.  For instance, when calves are newborn, they are prone to infection so using Iodine solution on their navels was recommended and taught by our veterinarian.

We have seen herders in tears out of gratitude for all the support and invaluable care they received. We, Steppe and Hoof NGO, implemented the "Spring Veterinary Outreach Program" successfully thanks to our donors' wholehearted encouragement and continuing support.

We would like to again extend our sincere appreciation on behalf of  herders to our donors and Mongol Derby Riders, who raised funds, for supporting our veterinary projects.