Research Project Update

I spend most of my days here at UCC working on my project but I wanted to explain a little what that actually entailed. My project really originated when I visited Nicaragua in 2003. There was a bar-b-que argentinean style. There was nothing but beef, salt, bread and ... beverages. Anyway the beef was from an organic cattle farm in Nicaragua. To say the least I thought it was great because the beef is the basis for my project.

So everyday for me starts the same... I try to take over the world. Ok Not really but it feels that way. Very simply I have a list of farmers that I have to contact. When I contact them I explain the concepet of the project. The big picture is I am takeing a stool samples from the calves before and after they use whatever natural product to get rid of intestinal worms. In addition to this there is a small survey( written in non technical Nicaraguan spanish) to find out the general management practices. Finally I collect a sample of external parasites ( ticks) to classify and test for resistance to their natural/ organic products.

As simple as this sounds you would not believe how frustrating it has been. From cultural, language, time, and ect.... I really consider myself a patient person but everyone has a limit. Currently I am still in the initial stages but I am hopeful. There has been recent progress and I am encouraged that I wont spend my entire year still trying to contact people. I will keep you posted.