Mongolian Herder Veterinarian Training

This winter is extremely cold (-15 to -38 °C) and challenging to herders, especially in western areas of Mongolia, including Erdenemandal, Khairkhan, and Ulziit Soums of Arkhangai Province. Steppe and Hoof team with head veterinarian Batzorig.Ts worked in 10 different Bags (the smallest territorial administrative unit in Mongolia) of as mentioned Soums in Arkhangai Province, crossing approximately 2100 km, from dawn to dusk everyday. 

In the scope of the Autumn project for herders, we reached out to herder families in their pastures. We visited 72 herder families and delivered veterinary medicine packages respectively alongside professional veterinarian advice and instruction on proper usage. The veterinary medicine package included Orondo wound spray for superficial wounds and anti-infection, anti-parasite drops and medicine including ivermectin and deltamethrin, Albendazole liquid for treating gastrointestinal worms and worm infections, Vitamin E- Selenium for preventing from Tocopherol Deficiency,  anti-inflammatories such as AINIL, eye ointments, 18G needles and 10ml syringes.

Ruminants have been suffering from open wounds and lacerations as the ground was covered with icy snow with a 15-80 cm thick layer in the areas. Unfortunately, herders did not have proper knowledge of treating such wounds and cuts which made the animals cope with the condition naturally. Our veterinarian Batzorig.Ts treated sheep and goats in their fences by disinfecting the wounds, opening abscessed lacerations, and then applying antibiotic ointments and putting sprays on top while instructing herders about the appropriate treatments and further steps to take. Therefore, feeding animals in autumn was quite unfamiliar to herders this year, especially this time of the year (early November). We have discovered that baby animals including kids, lambs, and calves have been suffering from diarrhea because of their newly harvested grass and diet in the feedlots; our veterinarian advised herders on how to feed animals with proper amounts and mix of herbs, grain, and grass in feedlots.

Cordial greetings and special thanks to our donors who made our project possible and helped us reach out to those herders in the remote area during such a difficult time of the year. 

In addition to donating directly to our projects, GlobalGiving allows our supporters and donors to create their fundraising pages to invite their networks to support Mongolian Herders and their livestock. Also, becoming one of our monthly donors is always open to everyone. Recurring donors are very helpful as these resources enable us to continue our work. 

Spring Veterinary Outreach Program (10 April - 6 June 2023)

Calving season was such a challenge to herders this spring after winter with Dzud (harsh weather and severe cold with lack of pasture). With one night snow storm and harsh but untamed weather change, newborns are at a high risk to lose lives. 

Our team, led by veterinarian D.Ochirbat, delivered veterinary service and checkup to those animals in need of treatment and professional care, and helped herders to facilitate their lives with better veterinary medicine knowledge and proper usage besides providing them with calving manpower by our vet internship students.

During the project, senior veterinary students stayed with herders families for nine days, between 10-18 April, 2023, and helped them with husbandry and receiving newborns. Meanwhile, vet D.Ochirbat conducted essential veterinary service and treatment in the Bag area. Over all, we worked in Gichgen and Chuluut bags of Jargaltkhaan Soum, Khentii Province. The destination was up to 130 km each day to reach a herder’s spring pasture. Some families were at their winter pastures as they followed the water source and warmth during strong dust storms.  

During the calving period, we treated approximately 80 livestocks including cattle, horses, sheep and goats for 38 families in nine days. Therefore, Selenium and vitamin E shots were given to 1000 new born lambs and kids to prevent from the white muscle disease, known as Tocopherol Deficiency, in the herders’ pastures. 

Not only veterinary checkup from 24 May - 6 June 2023 was conducted among over 100 livestocks in need but also necessary veterinary medicine packages were delivered alongside professional’s advice and instruction for 39 herder families in the Soums of Khentii and Bulgan Provinces. 

The veterinary medicine package included terramycin and oxytetracycline wound spray, Penbex Solution, Multi vitamin 100 ml, Vitamin E-Se, 100 ml, Ainil 100 ml, Ivermectin 100 ml, Amoxvit 100 mg, Mobi Dust 100 ml ad Cypermethrin 10 EC for ticks and eliminate ectoparasite spread and its damage in herds, 7.5% Iodine 300 ml for disinfection, Intramammary ointment 10 ml tubes, Opticure named eye ointments 5g, Amilyte C 500ml, Albendizol 10%, Cal-Plus injection, Bimodine bolus and subsidiary needles and syringes.  

The following veterinary medicines are commonly used to prevent and treat the topical infections such as lacerations and abrasions, wound dehiscence, dermatitis and footrot, and administered as antibiotic supplements, boost immunization, and treat such infections and equine and cattle flu which is big issue among herds in spring. All medications delivered with sophisticated instruction on how to administer an animal, treat it and introduce the proper usage of veterinary medications. 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.

The herders were greatly thankful for all the support and assistance during the calving season. We, Steppe and Hoof NGO, implemented the "Spring Veterinary Outreach Program" successfully thanks to our donors' wholehearted support and  recurring donations.

We are extedning our sincere gratitude on behalf of  herders in the remote area to our donors and Mongol Derby Riders, who raised funds, for supporting our veterinary projects.