This programme consists of three modules which contents the following subjects:
Module 1: Dairy cattle nutrition, forage production,and conservation
- devize soil fertilization plans
- develop a grazing management plan
- formulate silage
- optimize rumen fermentation, prevent metabolic disorders
- systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (CH4) in dairy cattle nutrition
- assess and calculate roughage supplies
- calculate and optimize rations for the various Lactation stages of dairy cows
- calf and young stock feeding and growth targets
- feeding systems, TMR
- systems for monitoring feeding management
Module 2: Breeding, reproduction management, AI, and pregnancy diagnosis
- assessment of dairy cow breeds important in dairy farming, advantages and disadvantages
- traits of dairy cows
- judging conformation of cows
- analysis of breeding bull catalogs
- designing a breeding plan for commercial dairy farms
- using “genomics” in selection of breeding bulls
- key performance indicators for assessment of quality of dairy cow herds/breeding management
- fertility management on dairy farms
- heat detection, use of sensors
- key performance indicators for assessment of fertility levels on dairy farms
- artificial insemination theory and practice
- pregnancy diagnosis theory and practice
maintaining breeding and fertility records, calculation of key performance indicators
Module 3: Dairy farm management, economics, and housing of dairy cattle
- explanation, what it means to be a manager and entrepreneur
- criteria for setting up a sustainable dairy farm and obtaining a public license to produce
- using local and international standards to determine key performance indicators of dairy farms
- calculate variable, fixed costs, gross margins, farm income
- maintaining financial records
- creating a cashflow forecast
- calculate a balance sheet
- create partial budget
- make a complete budget for setup of new dairy farm, and assess feasibility
