Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
It’s springtime at UC Davis, and that means calving season is underway.
In the latest episode of A Minute with Mark, Dean Mark Stetter had the opportunity to join Dr. Bret McNabb, Director of our Large Animal Hospital, at the UC Davis Beef Barn for a firsthand look at how we train students to manage cow calving. While most of the time animals deliver normally and don’t need a veterinarian's help, being prepared for a dystocia (difficult birth) is critical. From diagnosing a calf's position to safely guiding delivery, our students are gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to step confidently into practice.
Our students are wonderful, not just with the technical skills involved, but they also bring a calm, thoughtful approach to each case. Whether in the barn or in our clinical skills lab, they are learning how to make decisions that directly impact animal health and welfare.
We love being able to spend time with our students; it allows us the opportunity to reflect on the strength of our program—where experiential learning, expert mentorship, and real-world application come together to shape the next generation of veterinarians.
We hope by viewing this video, you can experience spring calving at the beef barn and better understand some of the ways we train our students. Our 4th-year students will be graduating next month, and they are ready to go out and help improve health around the world.
Video description: At the UC Davis beef barn, Dean Mark Stetter joins Dr. Bret McNabb and a veterinary student during calving season to demonstrate how students assess a calf’s position and prepare for difficult births. In this case, a rectal palpation is performed because the cow is not yet in labor; during active labor, assessment would be done vaginally. The video also shows another student practicing dystocia management in a clinical skills lab using a model, before we return to the barn, where we learn the cow has delivered her calf without any need for veterinary intervention.
It’s springtime at UC Davis, and that means calving season is underway.
In the latest episode of A Minute with Mark, Dean Mark Stetter had the opportunity to join Dr. Bret McNabb, Director of our Large Animal Hospital, at the UC Davis Beef Barn for a firsthand look at how we train students to manage cow calving. While most of the time animals deliver normally and don’t need a veterinarian's help, being prepared for a dystocia (difficult birth) is critical. From diagnosing a calf's position to safely guiding delivery, our students are gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to step confidently into practice.
Our students are wonderful, not just with the technical skills involved, but they also bring a calm, thoughtful approach to each case. Whether in the barn or in our clinical skills lab, they are learning how to make decisions that directly impact animal health and welfare.
We love being able to spend time with our students; it allows us the opportunity to reflect on the strength of our program—where experiential learning, expert mentorship, and real-world application come together to shape the next generation of veterinarians.
We hope by viewing this video, you can experience spring calving at the beef barn and better understand some of the ways we train our students. Our 4th-year students will be graduating next month, and they are ready to go out and help improve health around the world.
Video description: At the UC Davis beef barn, Dean Mark Stetter joins Dr. Bret McNabb and a veterinary student during calving season to demonstrate how students assess a calf’s position and prepare for difficult births. In this case, a rectal palpation is performed because the cow is not yet in labor; during active labor, assessment would be done vaginally. The video also shows another student practicing dystocia management in a clinical skills lab using a model, before we return to the barn, where we learn the cow has delivered her calf without any need for veterinary intervention.
