WOODBURY — Many of the animals at Nonnewaug have recently been bred and confirmed pregnant. The animals being bred comes with much importance to certain agriscience classes.

There are two ways animals can be bred: breeding conventionally with a male animal, or artificial insemination. Artificial insemination, or AI, is used often in agriculture and is the preferred breeding method for dairy farms. 

The animals at Nonnewaug are bred for educational purposes. The experience can make a big difference to how much someone can learn. Learning by observation allows the students to learn more than they would by watching a video or looking at pictures.

“Students are able to be part of the entire process of breeding protocols to parturition (the act of giving birth) and learn about the reproductive system and its components during the process,” said ag teacher Kathleen Gorman. 

Students can learn how to show the animals to the best of the animal’s ability. They can learn to show in an animal class or if they join a Career Development Event (CDE) team. Knowing how to show an animal can also help students learn about some of the animal’s behaviors. 

“Our animals provide an education resource to newer producers in the community that can purchase our animals to improve their own farms allowing our school to create a valuable community connection for the students,” said Gorman. 

Community connection is important for the agriscience program because it allows students to go on field trips to various farms, greenhouses, and other locations. Community connection also allows guest speakers to come into classes to teach students about something they otherwise would not know or to further their understanding of a various topic. 

These animals play a crucial part in Nonnewaug’s agriscience program and the education of the students.