“The Clinical Skills Lab is not going to replace all live animal experiences for our students, but I believe it will make our students more efficient and effective when they are working with live patients,” says Iowa State University’s Dr. Stephanie Caston.

Iowa State University is providing students with exposure to numerous medical techniques in their Clinical Skills lab.

Michigan State University is very excited about the arrival of their new Equine Colic simulator, Bovine and Equine Theriogenology simulators. They join Mootilda, their Holstein, in expanding their offering of clinical skills at their College of Veterinary Medicine.

Russ Gray of VSI was recently featured in the November issue of Jr. Animal Scientist, he even made the cover! It is a kid’s magazine put out by AnimalSmarts.org that is a fun way for children aged 5-9 to learn about science and the animal world. It features many photos and activities and is great for vocabulary and spelling practice for kids.

Dr. Jennifer Schleining and Dr. Frank Cerfogli of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine were both featured in episodes of DocTalk. It is a weekly documentary featuring Dr. Dan Thomson who discusses different animal agriculture topics and issues.

Boehringer Ingelheim funded the creation of a calf simulator for Freie Universität in Berlin. This little Hereford was custom made and features the Boehringer Ingelheim logo “branded” into its skin.

One of our Hereford Dystocial Models was on display at the 2017 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show which was held this year in Nashville, Tennessee on February 1 – 3. Heather Means from the Institute of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee said that she was a big hit and is one hard working gal!

VSI recently collaborated with Susan Thiessen, RVT of Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Dan French, DVM to create our prototype Equine Palpation Radiology Limb.

A great deal of research and testing has been involved in producing the most durable simulator with the greatest flexibility and most natural movement. This model features a fully articulated skeleton. Materials were chosen to best simulate bones and skin while also being visible on an x-ray. VSI has employed a soft, silicone skin that surrounds the tendons and ligaments, which can be felt through palpation.

She’s one of the stars of the Simulation Lab at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. She used to live in a large classroom — sometimes in the hallway — in the Veterinary Health and Wellness Center, not far from where her living, breathing equine brethren are housed. Now, she has moved into the barn at the Teaching Animal Unit, even closer to real horses.

Iowa State's Clinical Skills Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine is designed to give 1st and 2nd year students a chance to get hands-on experience before treating a live animal. By using life-size models, the lab allows students to get out of the classroom and actually practice a number of clinical procedures. And by allowing students more time in the lab with these models, students gain the motor skills and confidence necessary to perform these surgical procedures on live animals.

The Equine Palpation Colic Simulator has a soft silicone head and palpable veins in the neck covered by a replaceable hide that can endure multiple punctures. A mechanical system allows the veins to be pressurised. A bridle can also be put on the simulator, which is modeled on a 15hh quarter horse.

Check out this video of Mid-State Technical College unloading their brand new Holstein model – Congrats Mid-State! Check out the links page for the news broadcast as well!

While our dystocia calf simulators are primarily used by veterinary students, they are also a fantastic teaching tool for cattle ranchers and others in the cattle industry.

Get a look at the Clinical Simulation Center at WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Our Equine Colic model and Hereford Dystocia model both make a cameo appearance!

The College hosted its 52nd annual Vet-A-Visit on Saturday, April 8. Nearly 1,000 attendees gathered to learn about the veterinary profession and careers in veterinary medicine.

Visitors at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask. can experience first-hand what it’s like to birth a calf.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine is displaying Agnes, a full-size and anatomically correct cow, to educate visitors about how veterinarians diagnose and assist live animal birthing.

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine are offering a unique training opportunity for cattlemen who want more information on how to assist cows and heifers having difficulty calving.

Dr. Gordon Krebs uses the Hereford Dystocia Simulator to demonstrate calf pulling during a difficult birth during a women’s calving clinic in Acme, Alberta.

Mid-State Technical College made the news – and they brought along their VSI Holstein Dystocia Simulator!

Agriculture students at mid-state technical college are will gain new confidence thanks to a new tool nearly six feet tall.

Students at Universidad Cardenal Herrera, located in Spain, recorded, produced, and edited this fantastic video on Bovine Dystocia – Our Hereford Dystocia Simulator even makes an appearance!

Maple Stirrup is helping students in her new home – the Ontario Vet College – learn about colic in horses, reproduction, as well as IM injections and venipuncture.