Cowabunga
Grades 3-5
In Cowabunga, youth explore dairy cattle breeds, select calves, identify body parts, recognize desirable traits, pack a show box, groom and show a calf and identify stages of calving and care.
Youth will learn many things, including how to:
- Learn the breeds of dairy cattle
- Explore the milk production systems
- Demonstrate dairy showmanship techniques
- Explain the difference between a calf and cow digestive tracts
Resources
Moo Milk
Dairy Cattle Judging
All About Dairy Cows
Read to Feed
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
Chapter 1: Judging, Identification and Ethics
Identifying Your Calf
Interactive Livestock Identification Games
Ethics in the Show Ring
Chapter 2: Animal Health
Veterinary Medicine Extension Dairy Cattle Fact Sheets and Information
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
Chapter 1: Dairy Word Games
Dairy Quiz Bowl Time Activity
4‑H Quiz Bowl Questions
Resources
Holstein Foundation
Nebraska 4‑H Cyber Fair
Dairy Calf 4‑H Leaders Resouce Manual
Dairy Youth Recommended Resources
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Your support will give kids the chance to discover their potential in fields like STEM, Healthy Living, Agriculture, and Civic Engagement through hands-on learning experiences.