Teaching philosophy and interests: Learning is a lifelong process involving the
interaction of the teacher and student- both benefit. The University exists for the
benefit of the students. My job is to prepare students for entrance into the job market
or graduate school through challenging instruction which emphasizes development of
problem solving skills. Interests Teaching of applied subjects emphasizing practical
application and hands on learning Placement and guidance services for equine and
livestock farm employee students and preveterinary students interested in large animal
practice Production of educational materials (books, videos, and journals) and seminars
for large animal owners, students, and veterinarians Curent Projects: UMass Camelid
Studies Program(follow link here for more detailed information) Purposes: To train
undergraduate students in the care of alpacas and llamas to prepare them for a career as
a camelid farm manager or employee, or as a camelid veterinarian To operate a camelid
outpatient treatment, surgical, and reproduction (see Camelid Reproduction Center page)
clinical facility at the University of Massachusetts To conduct practical, humane
research for the improvement of camelid health To maintain an alpaca herd to teach
students about health care, reproduction, fiber, showing alpacas at New England Shows,
and the financial aspects of the alpaca industry To provide placement and guidance
services for farm employee and preveterinary students To provide farm employees and
veterinarians for the nation's alpaca owners in order to correct the current
shortage, and to support the continued growth of the alpaca industry Donors
UMass International Donkey Project Goal: to improve the health care of the world's
most important work animal and thereby the lifestyle of the people who depend on them.
For a discussion of the Importance of Donkeys in Africa follow the link here. Interested
donors should contact Dr. Purdy directly with their ideas. For a discussion of the
Differences Between Donkeys and Horses follow the link here. Relevant Donkey Articles
Written by Dr. Purdy can be found on the International Veterinary Information Service
(IVIS) website at the links listed below:
Herd Health for Miniature Donkeys
Reproduction in MIniature Donkeys
Artificial Insemination in Miniature Donkeys
Ultrasound Examination of the Reproductive Tract in Female Miniature Donkeys
Selected Accomplishments: Speaker for state, regional, and national veterinary and owner
organizations Author of several research and review articles on practical topics in large
animal health Author of “Care of Miniature Donkeys”in International Veterinary
Information Service e-book entitled “Veterinary Care Veterinary Care for Donkeys”, edited
by Drs. Tex Taylor and Nora Matthews, Texas A and M University, 2004 Principal
Investigator/Coordinator for Practical, Humane Research Projects and Educational
Materials Alpaca Eye Study- completed 2000 Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Uterine
Infections in Alpacas- completed 2002 Miniature Donkey Reproductive Ultrasound Study- in
progress Artificial Insemination in Miniature Donkeys- in progress Vaccination of
Camelids against Meningeal Worm Disease - in progress Antibody transfer in the Neonatal
Alpaca - in progress DVD productions: Castration of the Alpaca- completed Reproductive
Behavior of Alpacas Ultrasound Pregnancy Diagnosis in Alpacas
