How does Cal Poly care for 10,000 campus animals during the COVID-19 shutdown?

Cal Poly is mostly deserted and spring classes have moved online, but one university department can’t just shut down so easily.

From chickens and pigs to cows and horses, thousands of animals remain on campus, and they’re being cared for by 60 animal science students who have remained through the coronavirus outbreak.

“There are over 10,000 animals on campus,” said Dr. Jaymie Noland, head of the Animal Science Department.

“There are a select number of students who live on campus who elected to stay and care for the animals.” Noland said. “In addition, they also make cheese, meat products, (and) collect and sell eggs to support the campus and San Luis Obispo community.”

In addition to the students, about 40 faculty and staff members also are still working on campus to manage the university’s livestock.

Noland said there are over 7,000 birds in the poultry unit, more than 100 horses, several hundred head of beef cattle and about 220 dairy cows, in addition to sheep, goats and pigs.

“There’s a lot of animals to care for,” Noland said.

Students volunteered to care for animals

Cassidy Scatena, a pre-veterinary student, oversees the student staff at the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center. She also helps manage the breeding and foaling program and administers treatments.

She lives and works with fellow animal science students.

“It doesn’t feel like work when you’re working with the people here (who) are your friends,” Scatena said.

The students weren’t asked to stay; they volunteered. They could’ve gone home if they needed to, Scatena said.

“I love being here helping with the horses,” she said.

When asked what the students do in their free time, Scatena said, “We do a lot of riding.”

Alum sends students a thank-you lunch

On Friday, the students got a surprise thank-you lunch, courtesy of a Cal Poly alum Jake Odello of Carmel Valley, a 2015 agriculture science graduate who realized the animal science students would be living alone and caring for the animals on campus during the coronavirus pandemic.

He wanted to do something special for the students.

Odello contacted the department dean and arranged to order 100 sandwich meals from Monterey Street Market in San Luis Obispo. The students practiced social distancing as they gathered at noon to pick up the meals for themselves and fellow students.

“I wanted to bring a sense of connection, to recognize the students still there and to say we care,” Odello said.

Animal science graduate student Morgan Wonderly runs the pig farm and echoed that sentiment.

“I think it’s so awesome that they provided lunch for us ... just because we’ve been working so hard and (they’re) making sure we’re taken care of,” Wonderly said.

Classes in animal husbandry have been offered to Cal Poly students since 1903, according to the university’s website.

The departments of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science and the Poultry Industry merged into the present-day Animal Science Department. The programs give students a comprehensive hands-on “Learn by Doing” education.

Noland emphasized that the students are very dedicated.

“They take their jobs very seriously and they care a great deal about these animals,” she said. “We’re really proud of them, and we’re really grateful that they’ve chosen to stay and help us during this tough time.”