This spring I spent six weeks in Kenya for a veterinary externship sponsored by the GLOBE Foundation and Purdue University. During my stay, I investigated diseases prevalent in the cattle raised on Ol Pejeta (which I will call “ranch cattle”), cattle over 1 year on the ranch (“transferred cattle”), and those cattle currently grazing in the nearby pastoralist communities (“community cattle”). I greatly enjoyed my time in Kenya and feel that the skills and information I learned will be a helpful asset to my veterinary career.

The majority of my time in Kenya was spent collecting samples from random, transferred, and community cattle to investigate common diseases. A general physical exam was performed on each animal to assess its health status, and blood and fecal samples were collected. Using the small lab we had set up on the ranch, I identified what common parasites were present in the samples. Ticks were also collected from the cattle and identified. After the cattle were slaughtered at the abattoir on the ranch, I would examine the carcasses and check the internal organs for signs of disease. All of the data was compiled in a spreadsheet, and comparisons were made between ranch, transferred, and community cattle. The data will be further analyzed to determine the significance of disease among the three groups of cattle.

While I was on the Ol Pejeta ranch, I was also able to examine sick cattle, and investigate the deaths of other cattle. As a veterinary student, this gave me a great opportunity to practice my skills in animal handling, examination, and disease diagnosis. Since there are many diseases present in Kenya that are either rare or not found in the US, I was challenged to research my findings and learn more about these unusual diseases. I also learned how to work in various settings with very basic equipment, especially when examining cattle in the communities. It was at times challenging, but it was overall a very rewarding way of learning.

My learning experience in Kenya not only involved the hands-on animal experience, but also the many conversations I had. I was able to talk to the ranch managers, workers, Maasai elders, community members, and local townspeople about a variety of subjects. I learned about veterinary-related topics such as cattle raising, common diseases, local treatments, nutrition, and grazing. I also learned about other issues such as politics, eco-tourism, education, human health, and many aspects of globalization. These conversations were a vital part of my learning process in Kenya.

I had a great learning experience at Ol Pejeta in Kenya and feel that the skills and information that I learned there will help me as I begin my new veterinary career. I enjoyed the work I was able to do with the cattle and in the lab. I also enjoyed learning more about Kenyan culture, history, and daily life. However, my fondest memories of the time I spent in Kenya are the friendships I was able to form and the conversations that I had with these new friends – learning about their hopes and dreams, their struggles and daily challenges, their faith and beliefs. I am thankful for GLOBE Foundation’s financial and logistical support and for my professors at the Purdue Veterinary School for making this a successful veterinary externship.