One of Dr. Pete Ostrum's most important procedures is pregnancy tests on his clients' cows, which he performs in this Vets On Call series video. Here, Dr. Ostrum and a colleague work together to check pregnancy in cows on a large family farm of 4,000 dairy cows and 9,000 animals overall.



Technology plays an important role in the exams, the same technology used on human moms. Dr. Ostrum uses ultrasound of the uterus, allowing him to gather more information about the health of the unborn calves than when he uses just his hand. Vets typically check pregnancy by inserting their arm into the cow's rectum next to the uterus, wearing a protective, arm-length plastic sleeve.



Dairy cows usually give birth every 12-13 months and are milking for about 305 days. 

One of the family members who owns the farm is Dr. Lindsey Peck, who also works as a veterinarian colleague in Dr. Ostrum's clinic in upstate New York.
 
With all his clients, Dr. Ostrum says the main priority is the health and well-being of their animals, explaining, "A happy, healthy cow translates to a good product, a safe product in the supermarket."



A number of YouTube users have commented correctly that Dr. Ostrum as a child played "Charlie" in the classic film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. As a young man he transitioned from "candy man" to "milk man" to become a successful dairy cow vet.



"By participating in this project, I hope to draw the public's attention to the hard-working men and women who own and operate our country's family farms," says Dr. Ostrum. "Food safety and animal welfare issues are top priorities for both veterinarians and dairy producers alike."

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