Dairy Institute

Modules

All modules are eligible for Continuing Education Credits and Alfred State College Credit.

The Biology and Management of Producing Quality Milk

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Currently Being Offered: November 17, 2009 to December 5, 2009
Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Currently Enrolled in This Module? Log in to this course through Moodle!
For help, please e-mail wcdi@cornell.edu.

Quickbooks for Dairy Accounting

Currently Being Offered: January 4-8, 2009
Cost: TBD, Location: TBD

Management of the Transition Cow

Currently Being Offered: February 9-27, 2009
Weekday Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Utilizing Dairy Comp 305 Online Training

Last Offered: October 26, 2009
8-WEEK ONLINE COURSE

Calf Management Practices

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Last Offered: January 8, 2008 to January 31, 2008
Weekday Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Herdsmanship, Herd Health and Lameness

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Last Offered: September 23, 2008 to October 18, 2008
Weekday Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Dairy Cow Reproduction Management

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Last Offered: October 28, 2008 to November 20, 2008
Weekday Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Feeds and Feeding Management Practices

Last Offered: December 2, 2008 to December 18, 2008
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. LECTURE
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. HANDS-ON CLASS

Financial Management Concepts

Last Offered: January 20, 2009 to February 3, 2009
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. LECTURE
Fridays:
10:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. LABS

Manure and Nutrient Management

Last Offered: March 24, 2009 to April 18, 2009
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Weekday Classes Begin at 7:00 p.m.

 

Topics of Discussion:

• Basics of Milk Production
  Instructor: Dr. J. Bertoldo
  • Discuss: Anatomy and physiology of the mammary system; Hormonal control of lactation; Mammary blood vascular system and lymphatics; Milk "let down"; Milk ejection reflex; Lactation cycle
• What is Milk Quality
  Instructor: D. Walker
  • Discuss: Milk components; Somatic cell counts (SCC)- individual and bulk tank; SCC and its impact on production; Monitoring udder health; Animal welfare concerns; California Mastitis Test (CMT); SCC by organism; Milk inspectors role and reports; The milk inspection- key areas; Calling the milk inspector: when and why; Milk tests
• Milking Routines & Evaluation (On farm)
  Instructor: C. McCarthy
  • Discuss: Pre and post-milking inspection; Milking procedures- what and why; Milking routines; Evaluation procedures and routines; The role of the cow pusher; Cow behavior and handling; Cow response to procedures and the Lacto-corder; Training and communication
• How does Milking Equipment Work
  Instructor: C. McCarthy
  • Discuss: Vacuum and pulsation basics; "Anatomy" of a milking system
• Milking System Analysis
  Instructor: Dr. S. Carrick
  • Discuss: Measuring vacuum, pulsation, etc.; Interpreting analysis results; Udder hygiene and teat scoring; Parlor maintenance and troubleshooting
• Mastitis and its Treatment
  Instructor: Dr. M. Capel
  • Discuss: New, acute, and chronic infections; Infectious and environmental organisms; Culturing cows- who and when; Intramammary therapy; Use of antibiotics- proper selection and administration; Records- record keeping and record interpretation
• Tying it all together - Cows, People & Facilities (On Farm)
  Instructors: Dr. J. Bertoldo & C. McCarthy
  • Discuss: Mock milk inspection; Identification of milking system components; Evaluate milking procedures and routine; Welfare "audit"- facilities, handling, hygiene, teat scoring; Looking at records and milk graphs (Lacto-corder); Milk system analysis-examining system failures (effect of unit fall off, pulsation aberrations, etc.)
    
    

The following "hands-on" activities will be taught at a local dairy farm:

• Udder anatomy and milk secretion
• Udder dissection
• Milking routine
  • Forestrip
  • Stimulation time
  • Prep lag time
  • Pre-dip/washing teats
  • Drying teats
  • Post-dip
• Unit attachment
  • Timing
  • Alignment
• Unit removal
  • Manual
  • ATO
  • Turnover time of individual sides
• Parts of a milking unit
• Parts of total milking system
• Milk house procedures—Set up/cleaning
• Milking system—Vacuum testing
• Troubleshooting the cooling system
• Regular milking machine maintenance
  • Replacing inflations/short milk tubes
• Cow handling
• Cow cleanliness
  • Teat cleanliness scorecard
  • Udder hygiene scoring chart
  • Teat skin condition score chart
• Understanding SCC
  • Individual cow
  • Bulk tank
  • SCC vs. linear score
• Understanding raw milk quality parameters and reports
  • Standard plate count
  • Preliminary incubation count
  • Coliform bacteria count
  • Lab pasteurized count
• Mastitis and mastitis treatment
• Sample milk from cows & bulk tank for drug residues
  • Delvo test, SNAP test, etc.
• Sterile milk sample procedure
  

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At SUNY ATTAIN Facility in Perry, NY

• Training Course 1: 8-week Entry Level DairyComp305 course
• Training Course 2: 10-week Reproductive Records course builds a foundation for using DairyCOMP305 to monitor dairy reproductive programs.
• Training Course 3: 8-week Somatic Cell Count Records places strong emphasis on both background information for use of individual cow somatic cell count records and advanced DairyCOMP305 program mechanics.

Tuition: $135
Optional Textbook: $35

Lead instructor: Dr. Paul Rapnicki

DairyCOMP305 Training Course 1 is the first in a series of courses making up the web-based DairyCOMP305 (DC305) Training Curriculum offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Each course within the curriculum is designed to teach the specific technical skill needed to effectively run the DC305 program. Successful completion of this introductory course will be helpful in the other courses offered with the curriculum: Advanced Reproduction and Somatic Cell Count (SCC). A solid understanding and mastery of the basics is critical to being able to apply more advanced topics.

At the end of this course you will have gained important technical skills in using the DC305 program and be very familiar with how to navigate with the program. To achieve these goals, most of the assignments have been designed to enhance your DC305 technical skills through repeated application in the various assignments. The web-based learning environment provides the opportunity for you to gain a great deal of expertise and experience using the DC305 Program. You may expect to spend approximately two hours per unit to complete this course.

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Topics of Discussion:

• Caring for the Newborn Calf
  Includes care at birth, cow and calf immunology, disease management (Johne’s, coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, mycoplasma, salmonella) and colostrum management.
• Feeding Neo-Natal Calves – Feeding preweaned Calves up to Weaning
  Includes nutrition concepts, seasonal adjustments for feeding, setting growth goals.
• Weaning Calves, Managing Transition Calves
  Includes rumen development, starter grain selection and management, preparation for on-farm session one.
• Keeping Calves Healthy
  Includes diagnostic procedures, sanitation procedures, biosecurity, zoonotic diseases, role of feed additives, and preparation for on-farm session two.
• Achieving Efficiency in the Calf Enterprise
  Includes economic comparisons for pasteurized milk vs. milk replacer, for alternative feeding and housing systems, labor analysis.
• Grouping Calves, Housing Calves
  Includes building design, ventilation, group management, materials handling.

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Topics of Discussion:

• Herd Level Transition Cow Management
• Calving Procedures
• Fresh Cow Physical Exam
• Post Calving Metabolic Disorders
• Post Calving Infectious Diseases and Immune Disorders
• Records, Protocols, and Tracking Tools
• Instructor and Producer Round Table Discussion

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Topics of Discussion:

• Developing a Strategic Biosecurity Program Cow Behavior and Cow Sense
• Nutrition’s Role in Herd Health
• Identifying the Sick Cow and Treatment Options
• Recognizing Diseases, Health Issues and Record Keeping
• Farm Visit—Feedbunk Management, Tracking DMI, Identifying Sick Cows, Practicing Treatment Options
• Cow Comfort
• Lameness As A Herd Health Issue
• Farm Visit—Hoof Trimming Techniques
• Cow Comfort Issues Continued
• Developing Vaccination Programs and Herd Health Routines
• Farm Visit—Walking Tour For Cow Comfort

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Topics of Discussion:

• Semen Collection and Use of Artificial Insemination
• Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology of the Estrus Cycle
• Preparing Cow for Successful Breeding
• Synchronization of Estrus Cycles
• Farm Visit - Synergy Farm
  Heat Detection and Use of Aids
• Insemination Techniques
• Semen Thawing and Handling /
  Care and Maintenance of Semen Tanks
• Field Trip - Practice Insemination Techniques
• Genetics Overview
• Recording Keeping and Their Importance

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Topics of Discussion:

• Basic Feed Components, the fermentation process, TMR quality, evaluating forage dry matter
• How the rumen works, metabolic diseases, body condition scoring, bunk management, calculate forage inventory
• Identification of different feeds and forages, laboratory testing of feeds and forage spending
• Managing high forage diets, cost saving options - feed mill tour
• Meeting nutritional needs of different groups, reproduction performance and its link to nutrition, what a nutrionist looks at on a farm and why.

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Topics of Discussion:

• Bookkeeping Basics
  Accounting for: Cash receipts, Cash expenses, Capital expenses, Asset sales, New loans, Loan payments, Personal withdrawals, Accrual adjustments
• Financial Statements
  Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, Reconciliation of Owner's Equity
• Financial Measures for Business Analysis
  Liquidity, Solvency, Profitability, Cash flow coverage, Repayment ability
• Profit Concepts
  The profit equation, Manipulating profits, Cost control
• Budgeting Tools
  Partial, Cash flow, Enterprise, Whole-Farm Planning

Each person will complete a financial management project of their choosing. Projects may include upgrading the bookkeeping system for their business, analysis of the financial performance of their business, a business plan for a new venture, or budgeting for a change in their business.

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Topics of Discussion:

• Basics of soil fertility
• The Nitrogen Cycle
• Lime management
• How to read a soil test and calculate lime needs
• Introduction to fertilizers
• Basics of manure management
• Developing your own nutrient management plan
• Protecting surface and ground water

Hands-On Activities Include:

• Taking a soil sample
• Stalk Nitrate sampling
• Manure sampling
• Determining soil pH
• Calibrating fertilizer needs on a corn planter
• Calibrating manure spreaders
• Field walks to observe erosion patterns, setbacks, manure impacts, shallow soil problems, etc.

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Participants will learn how to effectively use QuickBooks to organize their accounting systems to provide the information needed for making sound management decisions.

A standardized chart of accounts (COA) designed specifically for dairy businesses will be provided to all participants. Instructors will teach the class how to: restore a standardized COA to their computer; personalize the COA for their operation; set up new accounts within the standardized COA; make deposits and write checks; implement an accrual accounting system through accounts payable and receivable features; reconcile accounts; search for specific transactions; evaluate the accuracy of their system using key reports; and generate reports for business analysis.

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