Page 21 - RVC Undergraduate Prospectus 2023-2024

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
BOLTONS PARK FARM

Based at the Hawkshead Campus in Services
Hertfordshire, Boltons Park Farm is our farm Boltons Park Farm is our farm animal practical teaching facility.
All Veterinary Medicine students will visit the farm at certain
animal practical teaching facility. stages of the course. The farm is also a good source of extra-
mural placement opportunities. You will carry out various
The farm consists of 200 hectares of mainly grazing grass activities here, such as:
along with 8 hectares of wildlife plots planted this year and 20
hectares of ancient mixed woodland along with the younger • Weekly herd and flock health visits
Lambing practical sessions and night watch
woods that we have planted over the years. •
• Lameness scoring
• Emergency vet visits
Boltons Park Farm is home to 130 Holstein Friesian cows Clinical examination and Rectal classes
milking at the farm and a further 90 heifers that will join the herd • Elective projects and presentations
as milking cows after their first calf at around two years old. •
• Housing, feeding and nutrition classes
• Routine testing
Also on the farm are 400 sheep of mixed breeds that mostly Animal handling practical sessions
graze all year in the fields. Our Norfolk Bronze and Black turkey • California milk testing
flock are reared in environmentally enhanced conditions – the • Cattle foot trimming and sheep foot examination
breed is ideal as it suits our rearing system well, is slow growing, • Animal welfare sessions
and produces a beautiful product. Also, 40 laying hens are on the • Poultry handling and management farm appraisals
farm with eggs sold to staff, students and local residents. •
• Turkey stunning and plucking at Christmas

“It’s very useful having the farm so close
to our Hawkshead Campus. The practicals
there throughout my pre-clinical and
clinical years helped prepare me for my
farm placements and I loved getting to
practise my handling of cows, sheep and
chickens. The staff are really helpful and
supportive and it’s great to transfer what
you are learning in the classroom into a
real farming context.”

Rachel Andrews
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE 21