Course Description
Effects of environment and its interactions with physiology and inheritance upon performance of the cow and the cost of producing milk. This includes the effects of climate, health, sanitation, forage systems, housing, equipment, and waste management.
Athena Title
Dairy Cattle Production Mgmt
Pre or Corequisite
ADSC 2000-2000L and two of the following: ADSC 3110 or ADSC 3300 or ADSC 3400 (one of these courses must be taken as a prerequisite)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Integrate the information from basic sciences of Genetics, Reproductive Physiology, Nutrition, Feeding, Disease Control, and Waste Management of Purebred and Commercial Dairy Herds such that each student understands, can discuss and transfer such information to users and contribute to a profitable dairy industry.
Topical Outline
Day 1 Class organization Day 2 Contributions to animal agriculture Day 3 Efficiency of production, production trends, dairy cow numbers Day 4 Lab - Overview of a functional dairy unit Day 5 Production testing, records, and interpretation Day 6 Interpretation of dairy records Day 7 Lab - Sire summaries, interpretation, value and usage Day 8 Digestive physiology, feeding neonates vs adults, optimizing replacement growth Day 9 Lab - Dairy cattle evaluation - recognition and value Day 10 Interrelationship(s) between intake, udder development and metabolic hormones Day 11 Nutrient requirements, partitioning during lactation and changes as the lactation cycle progresses Day 12 Dairy cattle evaluation - values of and recognition of functional type Day 13 Metabolizable protein system - relation to protein requirements Day 14 Feeding fat and protein to enhance milk production and effect on composition Day 15 Lab - Corrective mating - application of milk production records and type evaluation to a mating system to "improve" the next generation Day 16 Topic on day 14 continued Day 17 Microbial protein synthesis and supplemental amino acids - needs and value Day 18 Lab - Body condition scoring - relation to diet, lactation, reproduction health Day 19 Exam Day 20 Exam returned - forage quality - influence on ration formulation Day 21 Lab 8 - Dart Ration Formulator: Specific needs and nutrient deficiency management Day 22 Dry cow management - dry period - mammary gland anatomy and function Day 23 Mastitis - causes and economic importance Day 24 Lab 9 - Farm visit Day 25 Milk fever - Etiology and prevention Day 26 Ketosis - Etiology and prevention Day 27 Lab 10 - Milking equipment, mechanical function and problems Day 28 Practical reproductive management Day 29 Reproductive disease management Day 30 Reproductive disease management continued - other diseases in dairy cattle Day 31 Practical reproductive management in dairy cattle Day 32 Exam Day 33 Exam returned - Micotoxicosis: NO3/NH3 toxicity Day 34 Complete topic from 33 Day 35 Lab 11 - Farm visit Day 36 Class presentation Day 37 Class presentation Day 38 Lab 12 - Dairy processing - plant visit Day 39 Class presentation Day 40 Environmental management [heat stress] Day 41 Environmental management Day 42 Lab 13 - TBA Day 43 Waste management - current concepts Day 44 Waste management - amounts, problems, and types Day 45 Class evaluation - discussion of final
Syllabus