1. THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015 85
Globally, veterinary clinical teaching has changed
dramatically over the last few years. Increasing
student numbers, limited availability of teaching
animals and concern for animal welfare have led
to the development of veterinary simulators and
models to teach students clinical skills.
This enables students to get the necessary hands-
on clinical skills training, while satisfying any animal
welfare concerns. Students will be better prepared in
basic and more advanced technical and clinical skills,
and will enter the workforce with more confidence
and the ability to work more independently.
Innovating at UP
As part of its continuing efforts to ensure that
veterinary science students are properly taught to
do clinical procedures, the University of Pretoria
(UP) has established a skills laboratory at the Faculty
of Veterinary Science. It forms part of the faculty’s
strategy to adapt to an increase in student numbers.
The laboratory was officially opened on 16 April
2015, but had already proved to be a huge asset to
the faculty with the first student practical that took
place on 19 January.
The skills laboratory team is headed by
Drs Annett Annandale and Elrien Scheepers.
Over the last few months, they have been setting
by Chris van BlerkVET
column
KEEPING UP WITH
innovation
Liezl Kok, artist in
the skills lab (left) and
Dr Annett Annandale,
head of the skills lab.
PRODUCTION

2. 86 THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015
up stations, ordering equipment and simulators, writing
instruction manuals, modifying soft-toy dogs and creating
models with the help of an artist, Liezl Kok. Some of the
simulators that have already arrived are:
• the Breed’n Betsies, simulators for bovine rectal
examinations and artificial insemination
• a colic horse
• a dystocia calf
• Goldie, a heart and lung sound model
• Emily, a radiographic positioning model
• a thoracocentesis model
• Critical Care Fluffy
• intubation and intravenous access models
• equine anatomical specimens.
The team has developed suture pads, a spay model, a fine-
needle aspiration model and a cystocentesis model.
A laboratory corner has been set up for procedures
such as blood smears, urinalysis, and haematocrit and semen
evaluation. At first, the skills laboratory will enable students
to practise more than 50 skills. However, it will be expanded
to its full potential within the next two years.
The skills lab also provides sufficient opportunities to
expand the faculty's research focus in veterinary education.
As part of the laboratory’s awareness campaign, a Skills
Laboratory Open Day was held on 17 April, which allowed
staff and students to visit the laboratory and view the
models on display.
Chris van Blerk completed two honours degrees at the North West
University – one in communication and one in international politics. Currently he is
the head of communications and media at the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the
University of Pretoria at the Onderstepoort Campus. He is responsible for the final
production and supervising processes of all publications, strategic communication
plans and advertisements, as well as contributions to all UP publications. He has
won numerous awards in corporate communication and is the editor of the official
newsletter of the Faculty, OP News. E-mail him at Chris.VanBlerk@up.ac.za. TDM
1a
1b
1c
2 1. Some of the simulators in the new skills laboratory.
2. Dystocia cow simulator for obstetrical manipulations.

3. PRODUCTION
THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015 87
Dr Elrien Scheepers demonstrates the new
simulator models to students at the University
of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science.