[Bible Hill, NS]—Babs is a true star.
On Thursday (July 22) she was thrust into the spotlight during the Nova Scotia Agricultural College's annual open house looking totally relaxed without any sign of stage fright.
For certain, there were no butterflies to be seen in her stomach, as hundreds of people lined up for a chance to peek inside the ruminant's digestive tract.
"It didn't smell very nice but it looked kind of cool," said Calgary's Brad Deitsch, who wasin the area visiting family and took his children to the university for the day to enjoy the wide range of agriculture themed events.
Babs, a fully-grown Holstein cow, is among a group of nine cows at the Bible Hill campus that have undergone surgery to have a cannula permanently installed in its body. The rubber apparatus opens into the rumen, the first of four of a cow's stomachs, and allows scientists to observe and study the digestive process.
Stewart Yuill, an agricultural technician at the Ruminant Animal Centre, demonstrated how the device works by opening the centre plug and pulling a hand full of freshly chewed hay from the animal's stomach.
"It is used to research feed to determine which ones produce less methane and how ruminants digest forage," said the technician.
He said the device does not bother the bovine once the wound heals, a fact Babs attested to as she went about her business chewing her cud while Yuill reached inside of her to scoop samples from her stomach.
This research project was one of dozens people explored at the campus while also enjoying hay wagons rides, ice cream and a barbecue.
Windsor's Elizabeth Johnson accompanied a group of 4-H Club members to the event, hoping to inspire them as they work on a veterinary science project.
"This is an excellent opportunity for them," said Johnson. "My goal with this event is that they understand the agricultural college exists and all the opportunities that are here."
Debbie Mason and her five-year-old son Mitchell have attended the annual open house for the past three years, loving every minute of it.
"It's one of the best displays of agriculture and education locally to promote interest in agriculture," Mason said, watching as her son slid down a hill covered in thick white bubbles.
"Unless you come to the NSAC you wouldn't know what all is offered here."
University spokeswoman Stephanie Rogers said the open house attracted more then 600 people and demonstrated the many distinct classifications of science relating to the agriculture industry.
"It's a great community engagement event and it lets us show the fun behind the science in a creative way," said Rogers. "It's been great. The kids are having a great time. There is something for everyone.
Truro Daily News
