High School Technical Production Tours and Hands-On Activities

Dairy Nutrition Experience
1. To provide an overview of the Riverview feeding systems as applied to growing dairy cattle from calves to multiple lactation cows
2. Identify classes and sources of nutrients
3. Provide background in sourcing feeds
4. Large scale animal feeding schedule and equipment

Dairy Mastitis and Milking Experience
1. Mastitis detection and treatments
2. Cause, symptoms, and treatment of mastitis
3. Students will understand how mastitis is diagnosed  and procedures in caring for the cows to assist them in getting back to health

Dairy Dry Cow Experience
1. Discuss the lactation curve and insemination schedule and how they correlate with dry cow status
2. Students will understand the intramuscular vaccinations given to cows as well as how to preg-check the cows
3. Students will understand the procedure for drying off the cows in the parlor

Artificial Insemination Experience
1. To give an overview of the process of artificial insemination and marking procedures related to cattle
2. Understand the signs of estrus and timing of insemination
3. To gain an understanding of the proper methods of handling and thawing frozen semen
4. To provide "hands on" experience passing an AI pipette through the cervix to the proper site of semen deposition in cattle
5. Students will be able to identify all tools used in the insemination process
6. Students will be introduced to our record keeping system and insemination of dairy and beef semen
7. Students will understand heat detection and marking procedures
8. Describe preg-check procedures - 25 and 100 days

Animal Maternity Experience
1. Students will learn about safety around expectant and new mothers
2. Describe the birthing process and cow/calf behavior
3. List the steps to keep proper records of each calf including weight, cow tag number, breeding info (beef or dairy), and gender
4. Proper preparation of bottles and colostrum for calves
5. Understanding individual assessment of calves and treating individuals
6. Describe methods used in aiding calving for problem births
7. Describe twinning issues and free martin calves

Moore Calves - Blood Work - Proteins
1. Learn proper blood taking procedures
2. Steps in preparing blood for separation
3. Use centrifuge to separate plasma
4. Test plasma for proteins