Inspiring the next generation to value agriculture and livestock farming

Published February 2022

Alexandra Johanna Mäkinen is a sixth-year veterinary medicine student at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
“I am originally from Finland, but I have been living in Estonia for the past six years. I first came here in the autumn of 2015 to study, and over time Estonia has become my home,” says Alexandra, who is known to friends and colleagues simply as Alex.
“Growing up, I always saw my parents working indoors behind a computer. From an early age, I realised that I didn’t want that kind of career for myself. I enjoyed biology and the natural sciences, so I applied to study veterinary medicine at three different universities. I was accepted by two of them and chose Estonia. I knew that studying abroad would be a valuable experience,” Alex explains.

“I grew up in the city, but I also have relatives in the countryside. From an early age, my parents told me that if I wanted to buy a computer or anything else expensive, I would have to earn the money myself. So, while I was still quite young, I worked on dairy and strawberry farms. I even drove a tractor and ploughed fields!” Alex says, reflecting on the value of gaining work experience and independence at an early age.
“I wanted to complete my internship at Ekseko because I was eager to gain hands-on experience in pig farming. Due to the spread of African swine fever, veterinary students have not been able to visit pig farms. During my final year, I was required to complete a practical placement in primary livestock production, so I decided to do it at a pig farm.
Getting an internship at Ekseko wasn’t difficult. One of my lecturers helped me get in touch with Ülle (Ülle Eltermaa, veterinarian at AS Rakvere Farmid), and the rest is history. My biggest concern was whether my Estonian language skills would be good enough for everyday communication,” she recalls with a smile.
Alex is quick to add that the team at Ekseko—and Estonians in general—were incredibly welcoming and supportive.
“I was delighted to hear that they accepted me for the internship. The people I worked with and the experience I gained exceeded all my expectations. When I arrived, I was welcomed by Kalev Korbun, Director of Pig Production, and Kaja Kuus, HR Manager. I was provided with new work clothing, and everything was exceptionally well organised. I have nothing but positive things to say. The staff were fantastic, and at Ekseko there is a genuine emphasis on the importance of teamwork.”

According to Alex, procedures such as piglet vaccination and castration require excellent teamwork.
“I can honestly say that every day of my internship was enjoyable and interesting. Ülle, the veterinarian, is an incredibly warm and dedicated person, and thanks to her I learned so many new things. I would also like to thank Gea, Anu, Maret, Viiu and Armin. Thank you for welcoming me the way you did—you are people I won’t forget.
Although my internship lasted only three weeks, I would happily have stayed longer, mainly because of the people. I learned the essential skills and practical knowledge I had hoped to gain. At university I hadn’t had the opportunity to see pigs or work with them in this way, so I was starting from scratch. I learned quickly and became much more confident in my abilities,” she says.
“No two days at Ekseko were the same. The day’s work depended on who was supervising me. For example, when I worked with Maret and Anu, we focused more on treating pigs. The most memorable moments were when I tried something new and realised that I had mastered it and genuinely learned a new skill.
One thing that really surprised me was that there wasn’t any coffee in the staff cafeteria!” Alex adds with a laugh. “In Finland, people drink coffee very differently—we drink a lot of it. I always managed to get my coffee elsewhere, but that cultural difference still amuses me,” she says enthusiastically.

“I’m very happy that during my internship I acquired all the fundamental skills I had hoped to learn and can now confidently treat pigs. The placement helped me develop in many ways—I learned to work more accurately, more efficiently and more safely. I also learned to assess pigs’ need for treatment by interpreting their vocalisations and body language, and to estimate their weight by sight.
In the future, I would like to contribute to improving animal welfare and use my skills for the benefit of society. What motivates me most is understanding how animal welfare can be maintained and enhanced on a large commercial pig farm. I also attended a meeting of pig veterinarians to explore potential career opportunities. That said, I’m only at the beginning of my professional journey, so it’s still too early to say what position I’ll eventually end up in,” Alex reflects.
Outside of her studies, Alex enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors.
“One of my favourite hobbies is hiking with my dogs. I have three dogs at home. Two of them are Greyhounds—Ziru, who is four years old, and Kila, who is five months old. I also have a Miniature Pinscher called Dobby, who recently turned 12. I go to the gym and enjoy working on various side projects as well. At the moment, I’m learning how to make knives.
I’m really pleased that I’ve now completed what you could call a mixed-species internship—I had already worked with cattle, horses, cats and dogs, and now I can add pigs to that list. Over the summer, I hope to stay on as a relief veterinarian and continue working with my ‘patients’.”

According to Alex, in order to encourage more young people to become involved in livestock farming and agriculture, they need to be informed about the different opportunities available and the importance of the sector must be emphasised.
“The attractiveness of the field needs to be increased. Naturally, young people should also be offered more career opportunities in this sector. Urban populations have become increasingly disconnected from agriculture, and many people only see food as something that comes in a package. Nature, animals and agriculture need to become more visible in cities as well.”

Commenting on the internship is Ülle Eltermaa, veterinarian at AS Rakvere Farmid:

“Alex completed her internship in all departments and did an excellent job throughout. She already had a strong knowledge base and was able to apply that knowledge effectively in practice. My assessment would be: very good—she handled everything extremely well. She was diligent and genuinely interested in veterinary work.
I must also point out that her Estonian language skills were excellent. We were able to have all our conversations in Estonian.
We are always very happy to welcome interns at Ekseko, and it does not matter which year of study they are in. We are fully capable of guiding and supporting all of them properly.”