Prison Dairy

 

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Video Transcript

Chuck Denney (UT Institute of Agriculture)
A dairy cow has to spend a lot of time on her feet. So a good pedicure is necessary for happy hooves. Foot issues are just one thing Dr. Maria Prado looks for when she visits this unique dairy farm - inside the gates of the TRICOR’s Southeastern Regional Correctional Facility in Bledsoe County.
It’s a prison dairy where the UT College of Veterinary Medicine spends time each month.

Dr. Maria Prado (UT College of Veterinary Medicine)
“We come here. We take care of the calves. We do all the vaccinations, de-horning, any kind of sick calves - we take care of. And then we look at the adult cows.”

Rick Matheson (TRICOR)
“UT helps us train offenders and staff members. They do all our herd health. They’re usually here anywhere from two to three times a month.”    

Chuck Denney
The UT Vets also keep an eye out for Mastitis, a disease that affects milk production in cows, and also make sure the herd’s reproductive health is good. This prison farm has been in the dairy business for several decades now. They milk more than 200 cows twice a day, and producing 16-hundred gallons of milk. That adds up to some two million pounds of milk a year. It goes to other state facilities. The cows certainly do their part, but UT Veterinarians praise the 46 inmates who work very hard to make the dairy successful.

Dr. Maria Prado
“The inmates take a lot of pride in their work, taking care of the animals. Also they’re very helpful when we come out here.”

Chuck Denney
The work here is also good experience for future vets. In Tennessee and around the country, there’s a real need for large animal veterinarians who care for livestock. Meredith Westling is in her final year of Vet school, and may consider this as a career option.

Meredith Westling (UT College of Veterinary Medicine)
“I know that’s how I shop. I have three children of my own and you have to shop throughout the year and shop at different sales to get those good buys. And even sometimes shopping online saves you a lot of money.”

Chuck Denney
While this might not be your idea of fun, keeping an animal healthy and productive is what motivates these future vets. And around here, when the cows are well and the inmates pitch in, the milk flows.

END

NOTE: The UT Vet School also helps out at prison dairies near Memphis and in Morgan County.