Dairy Cattle

Mooving Ahead

Grades 6-8

In Mooving Ahead, youth learn about judging, identifying, ethical decision making, keeping animals healthy, parasites, behavior, housing, hay quality, milking, food safety and careers are featured.

Youth will learn many things, including how to: 

• Judge a class of cows and present reasons
• Discuss ethical situations
• Describe signs of health and illness in dairy animals
• Analyze dairy cattle behavior
• Demonstrate proper milking procedures

Rising to the Top

Grades 9-12

In Rising to the Top, advanced youth practice body condition scoring, selecting through records, mastitis detection, balancing a ration, pregnancy detection, delivery of calf, promoting dairy products and exploring career opportunities.

Youth will learn many things, including how to: 

• Identify parts of the DHI record
• Debate animal welfare issues
• Inspect a dairy for quality indicators
• Detect heat in dairy cattle
• Demonstrate how to deliver a calf

Helper's Guide

A young person has asked you to be his/her dairy project helper. You are in a great position to help youth develop in positive ways as they learn about the dairy project and themselves. You can nurture and cultivate their interest in this project by guiding their planning, helping them carry out their projects and recognizing them for a job well done.

Your Role:

• Become familiar with the material in each activity guide and the Dairy Helper’s Guide
• Support youth in their efforts to set goals and complete each Achievement Program
• Discuss, date and initial the activities of the Dairy Achievement Programs as youth complete them
• Help youth to know themselves, including their strengths and weaknesses
• Encourage the use of the experiential learning model