Midwestern University Welcomes “Unexpected” New Community Member
Basil is an added surprise, born of a cow donated to the University
- AZ - Glendale
Basil the calf, a surprise new addition to Midwestern University's Glendale Campus community, relaxes in the paddock at the MWU Animal Health Institute.
The start of the 2023-2024 academic year is always exciting for the Midwestern University campus community. New faces in new places, the fresh energy of eager arrivals to the many healthcare programs the University offers, and the promise of and hope for the future.
Unexpectedly, a new addition to the Glendale Campus community arrived in the form of Basil, a calf that was born to a cow that was donated to the University’s Animal Health Institute last November. The cow, Dahlia, was screened for pregnancy when she arrived, but it was too early to detect Basil’s impending arrival.
In late August, the Animal Health Institute’s Large Animal Clinic faculty and staff were understandably surprised to see that Dahlia had a new companion by her side. Dahlia – apparently a very independent and resourceful cow – had not only hidden the pregnancy from the doctors, but also decided to birth Basil on her own without any faculty or staff assistance!
Both Basil and Dahlia are healthy and happy, and the Midwestern University community got an unexpected but welcome reminder of how nature can surprise and delight us.
