AN 331 - Dairy Herd Management I

3 Credits

Successfully managing a profitable dairy herd requires knowledge of common diseases, their treatments and prevention. It also requires that managers monitor their herd health and production by using herd scoring systems. This course assists students to understand and effectively use all the technology available.

Rationale:

This course is a mandatory production course in the Animal Science Technology Dairy Major. This course investigates common diseases within the dairy industry, herd monitoring strategies and technology opportunities to make sound management decisions on a dairy operation.

Prerequisites: AN 330  
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

1. develop key performance indicators and herd goals for a dairy herd.
2. assess lameness in a dairy herd to determine possible causes, methods of prevention, and appropriate treatment protocols.
3. determine the cause and type of mastitis and develop protocols for prevention and treatment of mastitis on farm.
4. develop and assess goals, protocols, and performance of a herd health management program.
5. develop methods of prevention, control, and elimination of common dairy diseases.
6. incorporate precision technology tools into on-farm herd management systems and effectively interpret the data to ensure continual improvement.
7. evaluate production, health, and reproductive herd data against industry benchmarks and on-farm goals using common dairy herd management software.
8. evaluate Dairy Herd Improvement reports to monitor performance and progress against industry benchmarks and standards.
9. establish a dry cow management program that optimizes health and future production of both the cow and calf.
10. develop a culling strategy and protocol to ensure continual herd improvement and animal well-being.

This course involves 3 hours of lecture per week and 2 hours of lab every other week. Proper attire is required by students to be in labs.

Classroom and laboratory attendance is considered vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports.

1. Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours will be required to withdraw and will automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).
2. An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, exams or extended field trips. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:
 

1. Key Performance Indicators and Goals
2. Hoof Health and Lameness
3. Mastitis
4. Dairy Herd Health and Diseases
5. Herd Management Technologies
6. Dairy Herd Improvement
7. Dry Cow Management
8. Cull Cow Strategies