ANSC students return with valuable experience from their internships
ANSC students Lilly Rodman (left) and Oluwajomiloju Ajayi (right).
Every summer students from the department of Animal and Avian Sciences take internships in a wide variety of fields, corporations, and organizations. From veterinary practices to corporate growers, and research labs to farm hands, our students gain additional hands-on application to their education. This summer was the fourth year that ANSC offered the internship course with enrollment growing to 20 students. Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg, Senior Lecturer and ANSC Internship Coordinator facilitates the course, and students can enroll once they have obtained an internship. The course is developed to supplement student learning at their internship sites helping them to develop stronger communication skills, professionalism and critical thinking skills. Students have the opportunity to propose, develop and refine a project throughout the course of the summer.
Dr. VanKlompenberg said, “I love teaching the summer Internship course because it allows me to hear about all the exciting, and sometimes frustrating, experiences students have diving in and gaining real experience. This summer I heard about things like a student's realization that animal care jobs also require you to be a carpenter, Excel is really a useful tool to analyze lab results or it is really fun to tell people about cows!” At completion of their internships, students appreciate how much experience they have gained but also the satisfaction of challenging themselves in new experiences.
This summer, two ANSC students interned with different production agriculture corporations and returned with valuable experience to share with classmates and further their education. Oluwajomiloju Ajayi interned in the poultry industry at Bosam Agro Allied in Nigeria and Lilly Rodman interned in animal care at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington, Kentucky.
Oluwajomiloju Ajayi:
Oluwajomiloju Ajayi spent this summer working in poultry production at Bosam Agro Allied, a prominent chicken breeding farm in Nigeria. It offered her a unique opportunity to dive deep into the practical aspects of poultry management. Ajayi’s main responsibilities included conducting daily health checks, feedings, managing litter, collecting eggs, and upholding ethical standards. The following are condensed responses providing an overview of her internship:
A typical day at the farm begins with daily health checks alongside my supervisor – I learned to detect subtle signs of health or distress, such as recognizing vibrant, healthy birds and identifying those showing early warning signs of illness. After inspections, I [gave the birds] their daily ration of feed [and] access to water. A few hours later, we start the egg collection process, which occurs at intervals of 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 6:00 pm. The eggs are carefully stacked at room temperature before being cleaned and taken to the hatchery – around 500+ eggs by the end of each week.
My favorite day was the first time I got to collect eggs. I was assigned two pens, each containing hundreds of birds and you can imagine how many eggs I had to collect! It was my first experience working with so many birds and collecting such a large number of eggs. Although some eggs cracked during this time, I was reassured that it was part of the learning process and that I would improve with practice. By the last few days of my internship, I noticed that I was cracking fewer eggs than when I first started, and I felt super proud of myself.
Another memorable experience was when I accompanied my supervisor to the companies who buy and sell newly hatched chicks. I saw lots of day-old chicks, still with their yellow coats and had the opportunity to handle some. It was an amazing experience.
From this internship, I learned the importance of biosecurity measures. Chickens are one of the most delicate species that are very susceptible to diseases and this farm taught me the importance of biosecurity practices both for the birds and for humans, and how it can save a farm in several ways and situations.
I would advise other students to embrace the learning opportunities as they arise. Most importantly, do not hesitate to ask questions. People are often interested in your intellect, and you'll find that asking questions encourages them to share more. Lastly, enjoy the experience!
Lilly Rodman:
Lilly Rodman and a crew of 14 interns spent this summer working mainly with thoroughbreds from the racetrack or breeding farms as well as privately owned horses and foals at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Rodman and the other interns took horse vitals, managed fluids and drip rates, assisted with some procedures, and general horse handling and cleaning–she described it as, “ We were basically nurses, but for horses.” The following are condensed responses providing an overview of her internship:
A typical day began with rounds handed over from the previous shift. We then prepared fluids and medications for our assigned patients. Treatments ordered by the veterinarian were typically administered every two hours or more frequently for critical patients. Common tasks included giving oral medications, taking vitals once or twice per shift, administering IV medications, treating eye conditions, feeding, filling ice boots and more. We documented our treatments in the online system. At the end of the 8-hour shift, we restocked the treatment rooms to ensure the next shift had all the necessary supplies.
My favorite day was working on a case involving a foal with salmonella. Our isolation barn had multiple cases of zoonotic diseases and bacterial infections. Salmonella often causes secondary issues like uveitis, leading to vision loss. This foal also had a joint infection, which can be serious in young horses. That day was memorable because I worked closely with two veterinarians—an ophthalmologist, who showed me how to stain the eye and visualize the uveitis and other corneal damage, and a renowned internal medicine specialist, who conducted a lameness exam and ordered radiographs before injecting the septic joint with a corticosteroid. It was an incredible learning experience to observe and assist these top professionals, and the foal eventually made a full recovery.
In addition to the invaluable learning experiences, the people I worked with made the internship even more rewarding. We bonded through tough overnight shifts, and by the end of the summer, we had become a close-knit group. I’m confident I’ll stay in touch with many of them in the future.
The first thing I gained from this internship was a better understanding of hard work. The horse industry is a difficult industry to be in. The second thing I gained from this internship were the connections that I made. From putting myself out into this industry, I have met people along the way who are ready to support my future career goals.
The advice I would give to another student looking at this internship is to go above and beyond. Showing interest and eagerness to learn is something that does not go unnoticed.
