Mongolian Herder Veterinarian Training

Summer is the most hectic season for herders on the account of producing dairy products and looking for the best pastures and meadows to have their livestock grazed on. During this period, the nomadic immigration from one pasture to another is very frequent. Despite the seeking for the green and good pasture, there is a big risk of spreading animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease and cattle plague, and leaving the wounded animals behind or loosing time to treat their animals properly. Thus, we conduct our veterinary training in Tuv Province and in the region to provide herders with substantial knowledge on how to distinguish common animal diseases like foot and mouth and cattle plague, especially for their ruminants, prevent parasite infections among horses and treat horses’ wounds properly. 

Throughout our summer training we have visited herders’ summer pastures, and checked their animals and treated those in need besides educating the herders with veterinary care and medicine. Some of the veterinary treatment took two to four hours. 

The conditions treated ranged from lameness, weight loss, diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies, chronic wounds, and a spinal injury.

We have provided treatments including anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, electrolyte and multivitamins, topical anti-inflammatory medication, wound care, eye medication, and drenching via nasogastric tube. Herders were advised on the reasons for the medications used, were dispensed medication to continue treatment where necessary, and educated on further treatment, nursing care and rehabilitation plan of the treated horses. 

Out in the steppe, it’s a far cry from being able to pick up the phone to a vet for some advice or need someone to treat animals. Thanks to our summer veterinary service, horses got special treatment and herder families’ livestocks in remote area got checked up. 

By educating the herders and their local community, we hope to carry on improving animal welfare and herders' veterinary and medicine knowledge across the vast Steppe of Mongolia even further.