Program Overview

Course Description

This is the final module in the High Performance Herd Certificate Program. It will be a blended offering, designed to help improve animal care skills and implement best animal care practices on the farm. Introductory activities will be completed online, followed by a 1.5-day in-class/on-farm session. To complete the module, participation in an online session for follow-up activities and implementation of best practices on the farm will be required.

Course Outline

In this module, strategies and tools to ensure dairy cow care is the number one priority in the management of the herd and individual cows will be explored. The topics include:

• Prudent antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance
• Hoof care and lameness prevention
• Calf care and the first 90 days of life
• Animal health and welfare - what are the animals telling you?
• How the dairy code of practice impacts dealing with down cows and end of life
• Animal handling and restraint
• Technology and how it impacts animal health

In addition to the on-farm/in-class activities, completion of introductory and follow-up online activities, as well as an online assessment to demonstrate learning, will be expected. Demonstration of how selected practices were implemented to improve herd management and productivity on the farm will also be required.

Notes

The instructor for this course will be Dr. Shawn McKenna, an Associate Professor and Faculty member in the Ruminant Health Management Department at the University of Prince Edward Island. His research areas include food animal production medicine, infectious disease epidemiology, Johnes disease, lameness in cattle, and diagnostic test evaluation.

Recommended For

Anyone whose primary responsibility and interest is the care of the dairy herd is encouraged to enroll herd persons, new entrants, and managers looking to improve skills.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• High Performance Herd Certificate: Required