WSU Students Spend Spring Break Helping Cows Calve

As part of a selective Beef Cattle Calving Management course, four students monitor the university's herd during the busy calving season.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:15am

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A group of four senior animal science students from Washington State University spent their spring break camping in a cow pasture and monitoring the university's herd of 126 pregnant cows during calving season. The hands-on experience is part of a selective Beef Cattle Calving Management course taught by WSU's beef cattle operations manager, Ryan Goodman. The students, Naomi Turner and Laurin Ogg, will graduate this May and begin veterinary school at WSU in the fall.

Why it matters

Providing students with immersive, real-world experiences is central to WSU's mission and critical to training the next generation of animal science and veterinary professionals. The course allows students to apply their classroom knowledge in a hands-on environment, preparing them for careers working with large animals.

The details

The students split up the week in pairs, monitoring the cows in their winter pasture above the Snake River. They began each day at 6 a.m. with a sunrise check, followed by three or four more checks across the 1,200-acre canyon range land. They drove a small off-road vehicle looking for newborn calves and cows in distress. When they encountered a distressed heifer, they worked with Goodman and a WSU faculty member to safely deliver the calf. The students were responsible for weighing the newborns, ensuring they were nursing, administering vaccinations, and tagging their ears.

  • The cows were artificially inseminated on the same date, with their due dates falling in mid-March during WSU's spring break.
  • The students spent their spring break, from March 15-22, 2026, monitoring the calving herd.

The players

Ryan Goodman

WSU beef cattle operations manager who teaches the Beef Cattle Calving Management course.

Naomi Turner

A senior animal sciences student from Springdale, Washington, who will graduate this May and begin veterinary school at WSU in the fall.

Laurin Ogg

A senior animal sciences student from Hoodsport, Washington, who will graduate this May and begin veterinary school at WSU in the fall.

Zachary Seekford

A WSU animal sciences faculty member who helped coach the students through a difficult calving situation.

Raj Khosla

The Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

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What they’re saying

“We want students who will get the most out of the experience. What we're doing is pretty advanced, and we need students who plan to work with large animals in their professional career.”

— Ryan Goodman, WSU beef cattle operations manager

“This experience was a selling point. This class has built on everything we have learned since our first year here, allowing us to apply our knowledge in a hands-on environment.”

— Naomi Turner, Senior animal sciences student

“The calf was upside down and backwards. Normally, I can take care of that, but this year I needed help. It was so hard to sit back and watch. But with help from Dr. Zachary Seekford, we got the calf out safely. Naomi and Laurin did a perfect job helping the mother.”

— Ryan Goodman, WSU beef cattle operations manager

What’s next

The students will continue to monitor the herd throughout the remainder of calving season, which typically lasts 4-6 weeks. After graduating in May, Naomi Turner and Laurin Ogg will begin their veterinary studies at the WSU School of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.

The takeaway

This hands-on experience allows animal science students to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing them for careers working with large animals. The selective nature of the course ensures that students who are truly passionate about this field have the opportunity to gain invaluable practical skills.