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Dairy Cattle
Dairy Cattle 100 Hours Certificate Course
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Learn About Dairy Cattle
Dairy Cattle course online. Learn to independently analyse and make decisions about the management requirements of dairy cattle:comparing dairy breeds, managing anything from one cow to a large herd, and producing dairy products (milk, cheese, cream butter etc).
This is a very sound foundation course developed in collaboration with industry and by our team of experts (agricultural and animal scientists, veterinary surgeons etc).
This is a very practical foundation course; providing unique and extensive support from university qualified and industry experienced experts. If you want to learn about dairy cattle and their management, this is the course for you.
Course Information
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Lessons
Lesson Structure:Â Dairy Cattle BAG205
There are 9 lessons as follows:
1 Â Dairy Breeds
- Dairy Breeds: Choosing a Dairy Breed
- Comparison of Dairy Breeds: The Ayrshire, The Guernsey, The Jersey, Holstein – Friesian, Brown Swiss, Milking or Dairy ShorthornÂ
- Score Card: General Appearance, Dairy Character, Udder
2 Â Dairy Products
- Milk: The Composition of Milk, The percentage breakdown of the composition of milk, Protein, Lactose, Ash
- Factors Affecting the Composition of Milk: Feed, Weather, Stages of Milking, Incomplete Milking, Frequency of Milking, Disturbance, Dipping, Individuality of the Cow, Breed, Course of Lactation, Gestation, Age of the Cow, Oestrus and Gestation, Disease
- Milk: Oxidation, Lipolysis  Â
3 Â The Lactation Cycle
- The Lactation Cycle
- The Influence of the Farmer on Lactation
- Is Every Cow in My Herd Producing to its Genetic Potential?: Infertile Cows, Feeding, The Milking Shed
- Planning for Feed-Flow: Climate, Soil Type, Irrigation, Aspect, Slope, Natural pastures, Management, Present Feed Flow
- Planning the New Feed-Flow Program
4 Â Pests & Diseases of Dairy Cattle
- Mastitis: Types of Mastitis, Mastitis-Causing Organisms, Contagious Bacteria, Environmental Mastitis Organisms
- Mastitis Detection - Cell Counts: Mastitis Control, Effective Shed or Parlour Routine, Milking Equipment, Treating Mastitis
- Correct Treatment Techniques
- Dry Cow Therapy: Difficulties of treating lactating cows, Drying off - the danger period
- The Five-Point Plan Against Mastitis
- Viral & Bacterial Diseases in Cattle: Signs of Health in Cattle, Other signs which should be noted
- Disease Types in Cattle
- Viral Diseases
- Bacterial Diseases
- Parasitic Diseases
- Protozoal Diseases
- Other Diseases: Screw Worm, Ophthalmia
5 Â Feeding Dairy Cattle
- Feeding the Dairy Cow: Working out Dairy Rations, Maintenance Requirements for a Dairy Cow, Production Requirements, Working out the Total Needs of a Dairy Cow, Feeding a Ration to Meet the Nutrient Needs, Roughage, Concentrate Foods
- The Dairy Ration
- Working Out the Cost of Dairy Rations
- Model Answers to Dairy Feed Exercise
6 Â Managing Dairy Cattle
- The Dairy Heifer
- Managing the Heifer: Growth, Measuring Growth, Why emphasise growth?
- Feeding the Heifer: Factors Affecting Growth
- Age of Breeding: Effect of Early Breeding on Size of Animals, The Effect of Early Calving on Milk Production
- The Dairy Cow: Management of the Dairy Cow, Factors Affecting the General Health of a Cow
- Factors Affecting Milk Yield: Lactation Curve, Breed, Milking Frequency, Age, Milkings, Season, Heat Stress, Feeding
7 Â Breeding Dairy Cattle
- Selection: Animal Breeding Programs, Have a Clear Aim, Decide on your priorities, Dual Purpose Animals
- Artificial Selection: Understanding The Sire, Selection Intensity, The Generation Interval, The Heritability, Selection for Milk Yield, Gene Groups
- Regression
- Selection Using Family Groups
- Disadvantages of Inbreeding
- Performance Testing: Sib Testing, Progeny Testing, Contemporary Comparisons and Relative Breeding Values (R.B.V.), Relative Breeding Value (R.B.V.)
- Artificial Insemination: The Technique of Artificial Insemination, Synchronised Heats
- Ova Transplants
8 Â Managing Dairy Facilities
- The Dairy
- Basic Requirements of All Dairies: Siting of Dairy Premises, The Milking Shed, The Dairy Room and Wash-up Room, Milkers' Wash Room and Lavatory, Water Supply, Drainage, Equipment
- Cooling of Milk
- Machine Milking: Planning a Milking Machine System, Reasons for Using Milking Machines
- Components of a Milking Machine: The Vacuum Pump, Teat Cups and Liners (Inside the Clusters), Claw-piece or Beaker-cup, Cluster, Pulsator, Vacuum Controller, Sanitary Trap, Releaser, Pipelines
- Choosing a System
- Different Types of System: Normal Cowshed, Abreast Milking Shed, Turntable Milking, Open Sided Shed
- Other Considerations: Handling facilities, Computers
- Four Essential Points When Choosing a Milking System: Vacuum Stability, Udder Stimulation, Milk Quality, Emergency Facilities
9 Â Dairy Business Planning
- Economics of Dairying
- Business Plan Example
- Break-Even Production
- When Fodder is Bought In
- What is a Heifer Calf Worth at Birth?
- How Long a Cow (That is Not In Calf) Should Be Kept
- Months to Wait
Learning Goals
Learning Goals:Â Dairy Cattle BAG205
- Select appropriate dairy breeds for different farming situations.
- Describe the different characteristics, including their nature and scope, of dairy products.
- Explain the management of the lactation cycle in dairy cattle, on a farm property.
- Manage general husbandry operations for the dairy cow.
- Manage the wellbeing of a dairy cow, including consideration of its health and vigour, to optimise quality and quantity of production.
- Explain the significance of animal breeding programs for milk production.
- Explain the management of the facilities, including buildings and machinery, at a farm dairy.
- Develop a business plan for the management of a dairy property.
Practical (Set Tasks)
Practicals:
- Distinguish between three different breeds of dairy cattle, which are either significant in the learner's locality, or have potential in the learner's locality, including: size, appearance, preferred conditions, milk, cost per head
- Evaluate the suitability of three different dairy cattle breeds to a specified property, in a locality with which the learner is familiar.
- Select three appropriate dairy cattle breeds for each of four specified situations, with regard to: pasture varieties, climatic conditions (eg. temperature and weather patterns), locality, market requirements for the product
- Judge a dairy cow, using a standard score card, such as the dairy cow unified score card produced (and revised in 1982) by the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association.
- List the different dairy products which are commonly available, in the learner's locality.
- Describe the composition of milk, with reference to different characteristics, including: Economics of Dairying, bacteria count, chemical impurities, somatic cell count, added water, flavour
- Explain the different types of flavours in milk, referring to both cause and prevention factors, and using relevant terminology, including: feed, rancid, flat, unclean, foreign, salt, acid, oxidised flavours
- Explain how milk composition can affect its use for different purposes.
- Explain how milk is processed, on a property visited by the learner, including the process of pasteurisation (sanitisation).
- Explain how cheese is made, on a specific property.
- Explain how yoghurt is made, on a specific property.
- Explain how milk is processed to obtain cream, at a typical dairy.
- Describe the lactation cycle of a dairy cow.
- List the farm husbandry factors which can influence the lactation cycle.
- Explain how three different variations in a cow's diet may affect lactation.
- Prepare a plan for a feed flow program to support milk production on a specified property.
- Produce a log book record of management tasks carried out, over a period of 1 month, to control the lactation cycle in dairy cattle on a specified property.
- Milk a cow, verifying the proper undertaking of the task.
- List the routine husbandry tasks carried out on different dairy cows, including those in milk and those that are dry.
- Explain the routine husbandry tasks carried out on two different types of dairy cows, including those in milk and those that are dry.
- Compare the management of heifers with that of milking cows on a specified dairy farm.
- Describe the management of dairy cattle for meat production on a specified dairy farm.
- Evaluate a production system on a dairy farm, in a locality familiar to the learner.
- List the pests and diseases that are significant for dairy cattle in the learner's locality.
- Develop a checklist for the signs of ill health, which should be routinely checked, in dairy cattle.
- Describe three significant pests or diseases of dairy cattle, including mastitis.
- Explain treatments for three different pests or diseases in dairy cattle.
- Explain the irregularities which can occur in the functioning of the digestive system of dairy cattle.
- Distinguish between a maintenance ration and production ration for a dairy cow.
- Explain the nutritional requirements of a typical dairy cow on a specific property.
- Calculate the rations for a dairy cow in accordance with specified characteristics, including: weight, quantity of milk being produced, butterfat concentration,Â
- Prepare a collection of pasture plant species from two different dairy properties, and including: samples of plants (ie. pressings of different plants in the pasture), comments on the suitability of the pasture for dairy cattle.
- Produce a twelve month plan to manage the vigour of dairy cattle, on a specified property, which includes: a list of disease management procedures, feed program variations throughout the year
- Explain a breeding program in use for dairy herd improvement on a specified property.
- Explain the artificial insemination methods used with dairy cattle on a specified property.
- List the criteria for selecting cattle for a dairy breeding program, in a locality which is familiar to the learner.
- Plan a hypothetical breeding program, to improve milk quality and production for dairy cattle.
- List the minimum physical facilities required for a viable dairy farm.
- List factors affecting the siting of a dairy on a farm.
- Prepare a plan for the construction of dairy facilities on a specified site, including: sketch or concept plans of buildings, fencing surrounding buildings, and interior layout, a list of materials, including types and quantities required for construction, a list of equipment to be installed, a schedule of construction tasks
- Develop a profile of an ideal dairy farm site.
- Select the machinery needed to operate a specified, hypothetical dairy farm.
- Develop a maintenance program for dairy farm machinery, on a farm investigated by the learner.
- Explain the operation of typical milking machinery.
- Explain the significance of farm water to the operation of a dairy farm.
- Develop procedures for control of goods on a typical dairy farm, including: ordering, receipt, dispatch
- Explain two different ways to manage waste effluent from a typical dairy.
- Develop guidelines for safe working practices at a typical dairy farm.
- Explain legal requirements which are relevant to a dairy farm in a specified location.
- Report on research, conducted by the learner from an information search, into innovations in the dairy industry.
- Report on the implementation of recent innovations in the dairy industry.
- List factors affecting profitability of a dairy property.
- Explain factors affecting the cost of dairy production on a specified farm.
- Write a job specification for one member of staff on a specific dairy property.
- Develop criteria for assessing the management of a dairy property.
- Prepare or evaluate a dairy farm budget for a specified property.
- Prepare or evaluate a dairy farm financial report for a specified property.
- Analyse marketing systems for marketing dairy products produced by a specified enterprise.
- Explain factors affecting sales of dairy products on a specified farm.
- Describe the selection and preparation of dairy cattle for sale in the learner's locality.
- Develop a marketing plan for a specified dairy product which addresses: product presentation, delivery of product, promotions, customer relations
- Develop a business plan for a specified dairy property.
- Describe how the sale of dairy meat can be managed, in accordance with a business plan, while adhering to relevant regulations.
Examinations
Program Summary
More Information
Assessment
Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.
In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.Â
Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.
How our courses work
- Choose Your Learning Method
You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline. - Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited. - Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.  - Set Tasks and Self-Tests
Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests. - Exams
Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead.
Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this. - Design Your Own Qualification
ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.
General
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.
Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.
Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.
Assessment
Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.
Qualifications
Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.
Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
Career Options
What's Included
What your tuition fees include
- All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
- Assignments Marked
- Professional Tutor Feedback
- Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
- Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
- Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
- Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
- All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
- Qualification Certificate
- Official Transcript with assignment grades
- Student Manual
Plus FREE
- Academic Writing course (optional - 10 hours only)
- Critical Thinking course (optional - 10 hours only)
- Job Seekers Careers Guide
- Study Tips on How To Study Better
- Career Counselling by ADL Staff
- CV Writing Help, Tips and Advice
There are no hidden extras
Career Opportunities
FAQ - RHS Theory Qualifications
GENERALÂ
If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]
Q:Â When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL?
A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.
Q:Â I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas?
A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.
Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification?
A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.
Q:Â Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)?
A:Â The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.
Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications.
A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.
Q:Â What Does ADL Course Material Include?
A:Â Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.
RHS EXAMS
Q:Â When Do Exams Take Place?
A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute
Q:Â Where Do I Take My Exams?
A:Â UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.
Q:Â Exam Pass Marks?
A:  Module – pass 50%.  Commendation 70%.
Qualification:Â 50% pass for all modules.
Commendation awarded for all modules.
Each question carries a value of 10 marks.
Q: I’m Not Happy With My Exam Results?
A:Â You have the opportunity to re-sit your exam at the next opportunity.
There are no restrictions on the number of re-sits you can take. The highest mark you achieve will remain.,