Page 53 - RVC Undergraduate Prospectus 24-25

HANDS-ON CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
BOLTONS

PARK FARM

Based at the Hawkshead Campus in SERVICES

Hertfordshire, Boltons Park Farm is our Boltons Park Farm is our farm animal practical teaching facility.
All Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Nursing and Animal
farm animal practical teaching facility. Biology, Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics students will visit the
farm at certain stages of the course. The farm is also a good
The farm consists of 200 hectares of mainly grazing grass source of extra-mural placement opportunities. You will carry
along with 14 hectares of wildlife stewardship plots planted last out various activities here, such as:
year and 20 hectares of ancient mixed woodland along with the • Weekly herd and flock health visits
younger woods that we have planted over the years. • Lambing practical sessions and night watch
• Lameness scoring
Boltons Park Farm is home to 130 pedigree Holstein Friesian
cows milking at the farm and a further 90 heifers that will join • Emergency vet visits
the herd as milking cows after their first calf at around two • Clinical examination and Rectal classes
years old. • Elective projects and presentations

• Housing, feeding and nutrition classes
Also on the farm are 400 sheep of mixed breeds that mostly
graze all year in the fields. Our Norfolk Bronze and Black turkey • Routine testing
flock are reared in environmentally enhanced conditions – the • Animal handling practical sessions
breed is ideal as it suits our rearing system, is slow growing, and • California milk testing
produces a beautiful product. Also, 40 laying hens are on the • Cattle foot trimming and sheep foot examination
farm with eggs sold to staff, students and local residents.
• Animal welfare sessions
• Poultry handling and management farm appraisals
• Turkey production at Thanksgiving and Christmas

“I had the pleasure of completing a turkey
placement at Boltons Park Farm last year. It was a
hands-on placement that let us all experience how
diverse and interesting production avian veterinary
medicine is. Boltons Park Farm was also invaluable for
the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam and our
finals, letting us have practical memories of particular
disease processes. I recommend it to anyone needing
or wanting farm experience!”
EMILIE CHARLES
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

EXPERIENCE THE RVC 53