Stephen R. Purdy

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

  • 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