Skewell

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Skewell
Alias(es)	Dr. Skewell
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Livestock Office
Occupation/Role	Veterinarian; livestock-health and disease-prevention officer
First Appearance	Chapter 15

Background / History

Skewell arrives at Shi Wen’s ranch as the Livestock Office veterinarian responsible for the village’s livestock vaccination and tagging program. With Fu Meng and Shi Wen restraining the flock, he vaccinates and ear-tags all thirty-seven sheep in under half an hour, then records their breed, age, origin, and health information for the livestock-management system. 15 16

As livestock disease spreads among nearby herders, Skewell becomes Shi Wen’s practical guide into veterinary work. Rather than merely dismissing Shi Wen’s plan to buy sick cattle, he lets him work as a veterinary assistant and witness the severity of Mucosal Disease firsthand. 35 36

Despite repeatedly warning Shi Wen about the risks of purchasing infected cattle, Skewell supports the decision once it is made: he arranges witnesses for the sale, secures contamination-safe transport, enforces quarantine procedures, and handles the official disposal of a cow that dies in isolation. 37

After two recovered cows enter heat, Skewell explains cattle estrous cycles and guides Shi Wen through nutrition, hygiene, breeding choices, and artificial insemination. He later continues referring Shi Wen to owners selling sick cattle and assisting with their evaluation and purchase. 38 39 46 47

Personality

Skewell is friendly and approachable, meeting Shi Wen’s muddy handshake with a joke rather than formality. He explains treatment procedures clearly and gives practical advice without talking down to inexperienced ranchers. 15 16

He is medically realistic and cautious, particularly about contagious disease, but his concern for Shi Wen does not prevent him from helping. When Shi Wen persists in trying to save sick cattle, Skewell combines skepticism with concrete support and proper biosecurity measures. 36 37

Abilities & Skills

Veterinary Medicine

Skewell is an experienced livestock veterinarian who handles routine preventive care, infectious-disease cases, and reproductive management.

• Vaccinated and ear-tagged thirty-seven sheep using the government-provided Sheep Four-in-One, Three-Prevention Vaccine. 15 16
• Explains ear-tag injury risks, including inflammation and maggot infestations, and advises prompt treatment. 16
• Examines livestock for Mucosal Disease and explains that severe cases may only receive supportive treatment to improve resistance. 35 36
• Recognizes estrus in recovering dairy cows and identifies it as evidence of their return to normal health. 38
• Performs artificial insemination and administers vitamin injections to improve conception chances. 39

Disease Prevention and Biosecurity

Skewell manages contagious-livestock cases through documentation, isolation, disinfection, and harmless disposal.

• Arranges burial and disinfection after inspecting a cow that died from suspected Mucosal Disease. 36
• Requires Shi Wen to isolate sick cattle and disinfect himself before returning to healthy animals. 37
• Documents dead livestock, completes required paperwork, and arranges government-funded deep burial. 37
• Removes contaminated manure, hay, and other infectious materials after the sick-cattle recovery case. 38

Ranching Guidance

Skewell provides Shi Wen with practical, situation-specific husbandry advice.

• Praises Black Kid’s agility, stamina, and herding potential, while acknowledging the puppy is still young. 15
• Teaches Shi Wen about cattle nutrition, hygiene, estrous cycles, and the choice between using a bull and artificial insemination. 38
• Confirms the health and stable pregnancies of Shi Wen’s cattle during a later ranch visit. 46
• Helps contain Shi Wen’s sheep during a difficult medicinal bath and suggests roofing the bath pool to prevent escapes. 46

Equipment / Items

• Veterinary medicine case containing syringes, vaccines, ear tags, and ear-tag pliers. 15
• Sheep Four-in-One, Three-Prevention Vaccine. 15
• Local Brown Cattle frozen semen from Fengfu Animal Husbandry. 39
• Veterinary records and documentation used for livestock registration and disease-control procedures. 16 37

Relationships

• Shi Wen — Veterinarian, mentor, and collaborator. Skewell vaccinates Shi Wen’s livestock, teaches him husbandry practices, and later allows him to assist with veterinary visits before supporting his risky cattle-rescue efforts. 15 16 35 37
• Fu Meng — Local acquaintance and collaborator who introduces Skewell to Shi Wen and assists him during the sheep vaccination and tagging. 15 16
• Tang Duohai — Skewell’s assistant, who helps document, transport, and dispose of a cow that dies from Mucosal Disease. 37
• Local herding families — Serves as a veterinary officer for village livestock, treating disease cases, advising owners, and overseeing preventative and disposal measures. 15 35 36

Story Role / Major Arcs

Village Livestock Registration

Skewell introduces Shi Wen to formal livestock-health management by vaccinating, tagging, and registering his sheep. His visit also confirms Shi Wen’s unusually clean livestock shed and responsible husbandry standards. 15 16

Mucosal Disease Outbreak

During the regional outbreak, Skewell takes Shi Wen along as a veterinary assistant to show him the realities of severe cattle disease. He warns against buying infected animals, but later ensures Shi Wen’s purchases are witnessed, isolated, and handled according to disease-control procedures. 35 36 37

Cattle Recovery and Breeding

Skewell verifies the recovery of Shi Wen’s surviving cattle, explains their reproductive cycle, and inseminates them with local brown-cattle semen. His guidance turns Shi Wen’s high-risk rescue into the foundation for a breeding herd. 38 39

Continued Ranch Support

Skewell continues visiting Shi Wen’s ranch, helping manage unruly sheep, assessing cattle pregnancies, and connecting Shi Wen with owners seeking to sell sick dairy cows. 46 47