Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Luisito Brooks | During a display of the 11 newly purchased dairy cows at the University of Baghdad,...... read more read more
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ABU GHRAIB, Iraq – While searching for shade, nearly a dozen black and white cows, their long tails swatting at flies, wandered to the edge their fenced paddock where Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division had stopped to pet and feed them hay through the bars.
Students from the University of Baghdad’s College of Agriculture in Abu Ghraib displayed their 11 new Holstein dairy cows given to them by the Raider Brigade May 26.
The university also received state of the art equipment used to conduct artificial insemination, to increase the size of their herd and to train others to do the same.
“This project has been our priority,” said Mr. Hamza, the Dean of the University of Baghdad’s College of Agriculture. “We have the cows to teach our students at our school… the proper procedure of artificial insemination.”
This $83,000 project included the 22 dairy cows divided equally between the University’s Veterinary and Agriculture Colleges, food and specialized equipment to conduct artificial insemination.
While each college campus will have their own herd of 11 cows to begin with, partnership and the sharing of knowledge, training and resources will be encouraged between the two schools.
“The student will learn how to clean, feed and maintain these animals,” said Hamza. “The students will use the same equipment that student at American universities are using.”
He explained that he feels the best way to improve the economy and standard of life for the people of Iraq will come through good education.
Upon completion of the training, each student will have a valuable skill set they will be able to bring to the to the job market.
“Projects like these have endless possibilities,” said Capt. Talgin Cannon, the project manager from 4th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. “The knowledge gained from this will give these students a place in this society to make improvements.”
With each cow producing an average of six gallons of milk every day, the school can also capitalize from this project by selling milk collected by students.
“We can sell the dairy cows or its milk to raise money for the school,” said Hamza. “Getting the books and lab equipment that we need will be easier now.”
As the Raider Brigade prepares to depart Iraq later this year, they will leave with the knowledge that they have helped ensure that institutions like the university and its agriculture and veterinary colleges will be successful in the future.
“We want to leave the university with more than just dairy cows,” said Lt. Col. Darron Wright, the 4th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. deputy commanding officer. “It is the partnership of the two [colleges] that will remain.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2010 08:09 |
| Story ID: | 51215 |
| Location: | ABU GHRAIB, IQ |
| Web Views: | 427 |
| Downloads: | 417 |
This work, Baghdad University gets beefed up by Raider Brigade, by SFC Luisito Brooks, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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