Education, research, care and love for animals in a single event

This year, DOE Dag (Dutch acronym for Veterinary Medicine Outdoor Event Day, Ed.) took place on 2 May. This article was due to be published on Friday, 8 May, the day after a fire broke out at the data centre in Almere, which caused DUB's website to go offline for several days.

Every year, veterinary students organise an event to introduce prospective students to their programme and show the latest developments in the field. It includes guided tours, workshops, lectures and a country fair featuring a wide range of stands run by breed societies, charities and companies.

The schedule is extensive, including options like a demonstration with dogs from the Ministry of Defence, a lecture on avian flu, an archery demonstration on horseback, and a workshop on identifying bones.

“We aim to show people why we are so proud of veterinary medicine,” says student Laura Bokma, secretary of the DOE board. “We’d like to show what veterinary medicine is really like. People are often familiar with the vet’s practice where they take their dog or cat, but veterinary medicine is about much more than that." For this reason, farm animals play a major role in the event.

A calf at Tolakker. Photo: Annemijn Groeneveld

UU's anniversary and DOE
To mark the 78th lustrum of Utrecht University, a new element has been added to this year’s DOE Day. The Tolakker educational farm was renamed The Farmers for Tomorrow Square. Here, the focus was entirely on innovations in the agricultural sector, centring on the question: how can we work towards more sustainable and animal-friendly livestock farming? 

External parties were also involved, such as the organic dairy brand Kalverliefde, which allows calves to stay with their mothers for some time rather than separating them immediately, and the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre (VMDC). The latter informed visitors about its work through activities such as a "poo quiz" and an "isolate your own DNA" workshop. VMDC works with vets and carries out blood tests, for example.

Those walking into Tolakker were soon approached by a volunteer from the Caring Movement, an organisation committed to a transition to a sustainable food system, with a focus on animals, people and the planet. The organisation invites DOE visitors to take part in an "animal dialogue" in which participants spend fifteen minutes stepping into the shoes of a chicken, a poultry farmer, a supermarket or a consumer. In so doing, the Caring Movement hopes to offer people a new perspective in a playful way. It looks like they were successful: afterwards, one of the participants remarked, “I only realise now how difficult it is to change the system. Farmers really do want the best for their animals, but for that to happen, other parties must also cooperate. Otherwise, they are powerless.”

Community Forum
Future Food, an interdisciplinary partnership of UU researchers, farmers, policymakers and other stakeholders focused on the future of our food system, was also present. The Sustainability Office, which oversees sustainability at the university, partnered with Future Food to host a plekberaad on the future of agriculture, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders. A plekberaad is a form of dialogue in which different groups – from residents to administrators – come together to think creatively about the future.

The gathering took place at a sun-drenched picnic table overlooking the fields surrounding the Tolakker educational farm. Newborn lambs could be heard in the nearby barn. Further on, a group practised their steps for a line-dancing workshop. It was almost impossible not to feel inspired, agrees Joep Wijnhoven, who works at the UU’s Sustainability Office and co-organised the consultation. “It was great to philosophise together; a whole range of ideas came up,” he said enthusiastically.

Participants suggested all kinds of "multifunctional agriculture", such as a community-run farm run by local residents, or a farm that also has a play area for children or workshops. Wijnhoven received support for setting up a "living lab" at the Tolakker, in other words, an experimental environment for testing sustainable innovations. Several such scientific pilots have already been rolled out on and around the university's premises. For instance, a biomeiler – a composting tank that generates energy using the heat produced during the process – has already been installed at Tolakker.

The Plekberaad on Doe Day. Photo: Annemijn Groeneveld

From idealism to practice
The table at the community meeting was covered with a roll of paper and gradually filled up with dreams and insights. If it were up to the participants, their proposals for the future of agriculture would be implemented sooner rather than later. Yet the question remains: how can we motivate others? How can we break a pattern? 

“In my opinion, the government should play a role here,” said Jan Korff de Gidts, from the citizens’ initiative De kracht van Utrecht. He would have liked to have discussed this topic in more depth. Nevertheless, he went home satisfied. “On 12 June, De Kracht van Utrecht is organising a meeting on climate and mobility, and I will certainly be taking the insights from this discussion with me."

Wijnhoven, the organiser of the discussion, also went home feeling inspired. “Today demonstrated the importance and power of residents’ initiatives. They already possess a great deal of knowledge, expertise and connections, and know how to mobilise partners.” But that wasn't the only takeaway from that day. “For me, it confirms that the Sustainability Office is on the right track. That gives me energy.”

Demonstration featuring dogs from the Ministry of Defence. Photo: Annemijn Groeneveld

Criticism of animal-friendliness
Although most people consider DOE Day a fun and educational day out, not all visitors shared this opinion, at least according to the Party for the Animals. In its local election manifesto, the party cited the event as an example of animal-unfriendly entertainment. According to Saskia Oskam, spokesperson for animal welfare at the party's local branch, the event is being presented incorrectly. “You can dress it up as educational, but it simply isn’t,” she says over the phone, ahead of DOE Day, citing the horse demonstrations and opportunities to cuddle the animals as examples.

Mini-marathon. Photo: Annemijn Groeneveld

Oskam argues that it is possible to provide information about animals and veterinary medicine without using live animals. “They could use soft toys, videos or deceased animals that have been donated to science,” she suggests.

The Party for the Animals has successfully argued in the municipal council for the cessation of subsidies for cultural events involving animals, including DOE. However, the event is now funded by private sponsors, including the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the university’s veterinary faculty.

DOE secretary Laura Bokma regrets that the Party for the Animals did not talk to the DOE board. According to her, animal welfare is a priority at the event, both during its organisation and in its activities and demonstrations. “We have an animal welfare committee comprising vets who walk around all day to ensure all animals are fine. In addition, there is a committee of experts from the university who provide us with advice on this matter.” She also denies that visitors can cuddle the animals. 

Although cuddling was not part of the programme, it was possible to stroke the calves and sheep in the stables at Tolakker.

Live music by Billy and the Big Bangs. Photo: Annemijn Groeneveld

Science amongst hay bales
Despite criticism at the municipal council, the organisers are happy with the successful, well-attended event. Even the predicted Code Yellow weather warning for thunderstorms turned out to be a false alarm. By the end of it, children climbed onto the bouncy castle one last time, parents listened to live music in the food court, and visitors headed towards the exit with bags full of goods from the country fair. They also went home with new impressions. DOE Day demonstrated how science, practice and public debate can come together.