A lamb at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton. Photo by David Cawston

April’s contest winner was David Cawston who photographed a spring lamb at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton.

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine improves and promotes the health and well-being of animals, people, and ecosystems we share. It’s the only veterinary school in New England, and offers a four-year professional Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program, three combined DVM/Masters of Science degree programs, and four stand-alone graduate programs. Furthermore, their programs focus on infectious disease research, comparative oncology, international medicine, wildlife, conservation medicine and human-animal interactions. Their 585-acre campus is just 30 miles west Boston.

The school cares deeply about the relationship between animals and humans, about policies that impact animals, and about the positive impact animals can have on people. This ethos is the foundation of all their programs, especially through their Center for Animals and Public Policy (CAPP), the Shelter Medicine Program, and the Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction. The DVM program has been a leader in reducing animal use in the teaching of anatomy, surgery, and clinical procedures.

Mother Nature meant for sheep to mate in the fall so that lambs would be born in the spring when the weather is mild and the grass is plentiful. This scenario offers the best chance for lambs to survive and thrive. While most sheep breeds are multi-purpose, most are best suited to meat, milk, or wool production — seldom all three. Production practices usually vary according to the purpose of the flock. The lambs at the Cummings School are used to teach students how to care for the animals.

Each month, we are posting the 2015 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar’s photo of the month. The calendar features a winning photo of Bay State farming as well as interesting facts about local agriculture. The 2015 Celebrating the Seasons of Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar is available for purchase. All photos were taken by amateur photographers who won the annual Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Photo Contest. Proceeds from the $10 calendars benefit Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, a small, private non-profit organization that has been working since 1983 to provide agricultural education and training.

Written By:

Julia Grimaldi
DAR Program Coordinator

With a background in the culinary arts, nutrition education and program development, Julia joined The Department of Agricultural Resources Division of Agricultural Markets in 2008 to help spread the word about Massachusetts’ incredible agricultural and culinary opportunities. She also coordinates several grant and marketing programs available to a diversified group of growers and agricultural associations across the Commonwealth. A Boston University graduate, she can be found in her spare time sourcing out the best local products for her next culinary creation or volunteering in the community.

Tags: agriculture, DAR, Department of Agricultural Resources, education, Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar, MDAR