Teaching Transrectal Palpation of the Internal Genital Organs in Cattle

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Philippe Bossaert, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. E-mail: philippe.bossaert{at}ugent.be . In this article, a simulation model for rectal palpation teaching in cows, Breed'n Betsy®, is evaluated. Furthermore, the learning process of rectal palpation is depicted during a training period in live cows. In experiment 1, eight students were trained in live cows (group A) and nine students were trained using Breed'n Betsy (group B). After 25 palpations, their ability to localize and evaluate structures was evaluated in practical tests in live cows. Group A had higher results than group B ( p