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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Last Offered:September 18, 2007 to October 23, 2007
Classes begin at 7:00 p.m.

Utilizing Dairy Comp 305 to Effciently Manage Cows and Maximixe Profits

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Currently Being Offered: July 27, 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.

Management of the Transition Cow

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Last Offered: February 19, 2008 to March 11, 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.

 

The Biology and Management of Producing Quality Milk

Topics of Discussion:

At least one Saturday class at a local farm.
  • Basics of Milk Production (2 hours)
    How does a cow do what she does?
  • What Does A Milk Inspector Do? How is Milk Paid For? (2 hours)
    What do inspectors want?, What does contamination mean? (bacteria, dirt, antibiotics), Why cool milk?, What temperatures do we need?
  • What is Quality Milk? (1 hour)
  • How Do We Assess Udder Health? (2 hours)
    Basic Bacteriology, Udder Health, Milk Quality, CMT, Sample Milk - streak & incubate
  • Milking Routine – Why? (2 hours)
  • Mastitis and Mastitis Treatment (2.5 hours)
  • How Does Milking Equipment Work? (2 hours)
    Milking, Washing
  • Parlor Supplies (1 hour)
    What Supplies Does A Parlor Need?— What are good products – teat, dip, etc.?, Sources?, Inventory?, Parlor BandAids: What do I need in my Emergency Service Kit?
  • What are components of a cooling system? What can go wrong/what do I need to monitor on a cooling system? (2 hours)
  • Parlor and Pipeline Analysis (3 hours)
    The management and evaluation of the milk systems (timing, sanitation, and more).
  • Summary session and evaluation (2 hours)

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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Utilizing Dairy Comp 305 to Efficiently Manage Cows and Maximize Profits

Topics of Discussion:

  • Basic Dairy Comp Navigation
    (DC305, Scount)
  • The Context For Profitably Managing A Dairy Cow
  • Using The Command Line To Maximize The Power Of Dairy Comp 305
  • Special Commands and Functions
  • Monitoring and Evaluating Herd Performance

Core Competencies:

  • Basic computer operation
  • Learning the record keeping system of that farm
  • Accessing data from DHIA sources, including private firms, milk meters and other software
  • Entering data on farm
  • Creating reports
  • Ability to graph and/or plot most cow, group or herd items
  • Accessing animal information
  • Accessing herd health information
  • Analyze reproductive data
  • Monitor herd performance
  • Interpreting reports
  • Decision making

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Calf Management Practices

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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Management of the Transition Cow

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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Herdsmanship, Herd Health and Lameness

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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Dairy Cow Reproduction Management

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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Feeds and Feeding Management Practices

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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Financial Management Concepts

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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Manure and Nutrient Management

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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