Veterinarians Roy Coolman, left, and Gervas Schafer used their time in Ethiopia to check up on Project Mercy’s dairy cow herd. Together — along with help from the herd’s Ethiopian caretakers and fellow Project Mercy travelers Reid and Brooke Dodge — they dewormed the cattle, completed other health-related tasks and gave the cattle the only vaccine they could at that time, which was for anthrax.

SYRACUSE — Retired large animal veterinarian Gervas Schafer of Syracuse received the opportunity to embark on a trip to Ethiopia Aug. 11-22. There he explored the work being done by Project Mercy, a not-for-profit organization based in Fort Wayne and Yetebon, Ethiopia.

In particular, he was asked by fellow veterinarian Roy Coolman of Fort Wayne to check out the organization’s dairy cow project, which is in its formative years.

Schafer explained local Ethiopians had been using native zebu cows. “Zebu cows are smaller and give 1 quart of milk or 2 quarts if it’s a good cow.”

To bulk up milk production, donated Jersey semen was used to launch a crossbreeding program. “Once born, (the crossbreed cows) are raised up to 14 to 15 months, and bred. Then when six months pregnant, there is a lottery and they are put out into the community,” he said.

Lottery winners can milk their cow and raise up the calf. If that calf is a female, they can breed her and have more milk; or if it is a bull, they can butcher it for meat or whatever they want.

With the half Jerseys, families went from 1 to 3 quarts of milk to 3 to 4 gallons. Schafer stated this allowed families to use what they needed and then make cheese and butter to be sold.

“It’s really helping the local economy,” he said. “One family saw its gross income increase four times.”

Schafer became knowledgeable of the project by helping Coolman, a small animal veterinarian who has been heavily involved with Project Mercy, learn the ins and outs of cattle by taking him on rounds when the crossbreeding program was in its infancy. And when Coolman was about to go on another visit in August, he asked Schafer to come. The goal of the trip was help the Ethiopian herd manager to implement a uniformed, computerized records program, using a donated laptop and computer program.

Schafer and Coolman were accompanied by Reid and Brooke Dodge, son and daughter-in-law of Randall Dodge, the administrator for U.S. Project Mercy. Schafer noted Brooke intends to become a missionary veterinarian and is applying to Purdue University to do just that.

Together they worked with the herd manager and other Ethiopian caretakers to vaccinate the cattle for anthrax, deworm them, palpate the inseminated cows to ascertain their pregnancies and castrate some of the organization’s 100 bulls. Schafer and Coolman also performed an impromptu hernia surgery on a young heifer — which included purchasing filament from a cobbler to be used as a suture.

While in Ethiopia, Schafer also was able to see several other programs launched by Project Mercy co-founders Marta Gabre-Tsadick and her husband, Deme Tekle-Wold. These programs include a school building that teaches elementary-aged students to college students; orphanage; hospital; water well project; numerous agricultural programs to produce long-lasting sources of food; skill enhancement programs; among others.

Schafer noted all of these programs share one commonality: Ethiopians themselves are stepping into leadership and keeping them going. “This isn’t outsiders stepping in, they are doing it all themselves,” he said.

Of the trip, he added, “We really got along good. The trip was so fulfilling and enlightening.” He added he hopes their efforts will ultimately be of use to the local community.

For more information about Project Mercy, visit www.projectmercy.org.

Beyond its dairy cattle breeding project, Project Mercy has several others aimed at improving the quality of life in Ethiopia, including a skills training program that teaches basket making, bead and bracelet making, embroidery, sewing, beekeeping, woodworking and more.