Academic Field Visit to Babacan Cattle Farm in Senir Town of Isparta by Students of the Laboratory and Veterinary Health Program

Burdur Food Agriculture and Livestock Vocational School, students of the Laboratory and Veterinary Health Program, under the academic coordination of Dr. Instructor Türker ATCALI, conducted a comprehensive technical visit to Babacan Farm, owned by Hasan BABACAN, in Senir Town of Isparta to concretize theoretical gains in cattle breeding and herd management in field conditions. This study served as a critical academic bridge for students to analyze the sectoral operations on-site and reinforce their professional competencies regarding veterinary practices.

During the visit, students deepened their field experiences on herd general health screenings, nutritional supplementation practices in calves, calf feeding methods, specific parenteral drug applications, management of strategic vaccination schedules, hoof trimming, and critical veterinary activities aimed at maintaining foot health . Additionally, on-site examinations were conducted regarding barn hygiene protocols, birth management, and ration optimization; theoretical knowledge was evaluated comparatively with practical data obtained from the field.

Another key component of the technical trip program was the management of the enterprise and production technologies. Students had the opportunity to expand their professional vision by directly receiving information from industry representatives about the direct effects of milking systems on efficiency, periodic maintenance processes of the systems, and hygienic milking standards.

This technical visit, where different disciplines such as herd management, reproduction, feeding, and hygiene management were observed together, not only increased the students' professional confidence but also allowed them to gain a holistic perspective on the management processes of high-yield livestock enterprises. The Laboratory and Veterinary Health Program continues to resolutely train its students in accordance with the requirements of modern livestock through sectoral collaborations, focusing on the applied education model.