Farmer Focus: Vet school did not make me practical
Gillian and Neil O'Sullivan © Cathal Noonan Every day I farm is a school day. I was a latecomer to farming, never milking a cow until I was 25.
My education through secondary school and university missed essential skills and practical expertise that are absolutely necessary to navigate the average day on a dairy farm.
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About the author
In my defence, I spent a good chunk of my life with my head buried in books, studying to be a vet.
In-depth animal health knowledge is beneficial, but it doesn’t quite cut the mustard when faced with the practical challenges of farming.
I thought being a vet made me a jack of all trades, but “farming” laughed heartily and said, “Hold my baler twine”.
Every single day is a merry-go-round of problem solving. I generally get so far with fixing something, feeling like I’m making incredible progress, and then I’m blindsided by the next hurdle.
Is it normal gauge or heavy gauge? Wood or masonry bit? High tensile or plain? What do I do with two-stroke oil? Inch pipe or three-quarter inch? Do I need an extender? Is it a male or female fitting?
For anyone in the business, these are simple and obvious questions. For me, it’s like taking an exam I’ve never studied for, and I’m left fumbling through the basics.
My learning is a slow and painful process. However, I’ve come to realise that you don’t make the same mistake twice.
When I started plumbing and had to rejoin a split water pipe, I didn’t turn off the gate valve (mistake one), I didn’t cut the pipe long enough to join with the new fitting (mistake two), and I didn’t check the correct pieces of the fitting were there, including the rubber ring (mistake three).
Finally, I electrocuted myself on the electric wire running above the pipe (like many wires do).
On my journey of repairs and maintenance, I raise a glass to farmers, who are the original innovators, upcyclers and true MacGyvers of our generation.
The endless uses of IBCs, blue barrels, baler twine and pallets will forever impress me.
Until I reach master status, I will continue onwards and upwards, as a long-suffering journeyman with a nervous tick around electric wire.