The Complete Herdsman Training Program is made up of seven individual courses that are presented over a two week period every autumn. The courses can be taken separately, or you can enroll in the complete course for a 25% savings in cost. Click on the below courses to read about what each one has to offer.
proAction: Let’s Get It Done!
Basic Examination and Treatment of the Cow
Health Management of the Young Calf
Trimming and Treating the Lame Cow
Calving Management
Dairy Reproduction
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proAction: Let’s Get It Done!
proAction validation is a necessary part of running a dairy farm now, and its goal of ensuring Canadian milk is of the highest quality and produced in responsibly is very valuable to our industry.
However, the requirements to achieve a successful validation can be daunting. There is plenty of paperwork to be organized, lots of records to keep and protocols to implement, not to mention the cattle assessment. Through this course, Dr. Phil Chris will go over some of the specific requirements of proAction, how to best prepare for a cattle assessment and farm validation, and also expand on how you can utilize proAction to help your farm work better for your cattle and you.Cost: $150.00 + tax
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Basic Examination and Treatment of the Cow
Dr. John Dick presents this two-day, 10-hour “hands on” course on the examination of the sick cow. The goal is to allow participants to more quickly and accurately identify, diagnose and treat sick cows. The focus of the course will be teaching practical skills. The first day of this course is a class-based teaching session, and then these principles are reinforced in a barn session the second day where participants work directly on dairy cows.
The course will cover:
- A systematic approach to examination of the sick cow
- Diagnosis of some common diseases such as mastitis, ketosis, displaced abomasum, down cows, and metritis
- Guidelines on when to call for veterinary assistance
- Treatment principles for common disease conditions
- Treatment techniques:
- Blood collection
- IV administration
- Stomach tubing
- Drenching and Bolusing
Cost: $400.00 + tax
***COURSE ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS SO REGISTER EARLY****
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Health Management of the Young Calf
Dr. Bev Chard will be offering this full-day course and practical session that will focus on the management of the calf from birth to weaning. Course highlights include resuscitation of the newborn calf, colostrum management, young calf housing and nutrition, common diseases, and vaccination strategies. The latest concepts in calf rearing will be presented.
An on farm session will make available live calves to help students learn the basics of physical examination, taking a blood sample, using an esophageal feeder, and dehorning.Cost: $250.00 + tax
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Trimming and Treating the Lame Cow
We have expanded our Trimming and Treating the Lame Cow course! Doug Johnstone from AR-PE Hooftrimming will be joining Dr. Christina Lyn in providing practical hoof care information and hands-on trimming instructions. Common foot and hoof conditions will be discussed in the classroom session, including diagnosis, treatment, and preventative strategies. Trimming techniques ( including power tools) on normal, overgrown and lame cows will then be demonstrated, and each student will have an opportunity to practice on a variety of cadaver feet.
Further one-on-one training is available on your farm to reinforce the classroom material.Cost: $350.00 + tax
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Calving Management
Dr. Bev Chard will be offering this afternoon course that will focus on the practical management of the calving cow. It will review when to move a cow to the freshening pen, the signs of normal calving progress and when to check the cow or assist. Common obstetrical problems will be reviewed and tips presented on how to correct them.
There will be an opportunity to work on calves in an “artificial” birth canal to practice recognizing the correct position of the calf and how to safely manipulate it in the uterus. After calving problems like uterine prolapse and bleeding will be reviewed.Cost: $175.00 + tax
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Dairy Reproduction & Cow Comfort
Dr. John Dick will review the importance of reproduction on a dairy farm. During this afternoon course, Dr. Dick will provide practical tips on assessing reproduction and how to monitor and improve pregnancy rates. Timed insemination protocols will also be discussed, along with the most recent science behind getting the most success from your reproductive program. In addition, factors affecting the comfort of your cows and how cow comfort can affect reproduction, production, and health will be covered.
Cost: $200.00 + tax
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