High School Laboratory Experiences

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. Quality test a feed ration with Penn State Shaker Boxes
5. Large scale animal feeding schedule and equipment

Dairy Mastitis and Milking Experience
1. Overview and tour of carousel at Darnen Dairy Site to show all aspects of milking procedure, as well as mastitis detection and treatments
2. Provide an overview of the cause, symptoms, and treatment of mastitis
3. Students will understand how mastitis is diagnosed and procedures used at Riverview to move that animal into the hospital
4. Provide an opportunity for students to milk the mastitis cows, focusing on safety in the parlor

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, including the antibiotic for the udder as well as the dry sealant injected in the udder
4. Students will understand movement to the transition barn and the cycle back to milking status
5. Students will understand the milking procedure and protocol

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 martinism

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

Moore Calves - Calf Feeding and Transfer
1. Students will learn techniques in bottle feeding young calves
2. Students will understand large scale process of milk replacer formulation
3. Describe the process of moving calves safely into the truck for transfer
4. Students will understand the Riverview Dairy Model