Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow

Purpose

You walk into the local farm supply and overhear a few individuals discussing the problems that they are having with their cow mattresses. You think, “Why does a cow need a mattress? They live in a barn.” Another farmer mentions that he doesn’t even milk his cows—a robot takes care of that for him. Aren’t all dairy farms the same?

Each dairy farm has many decisions on how their farm will be managed. A major task to manage is the design of buildings, milking parlors, and heifer barns. Some farmers spend no time milking cows while others spend 2-6 hours per milking. The differences occur in how their farm is designed.

This lesson will introduce you to the numerous ways that farms manage their animals and how their facilities are designed. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to correctly identify a tie-stall and freestall barn, a robotic milking unit, a pack barn, and a grazing rotation.

Materials

Dairy Facilities PowerPoint Pen/Pencil

Procedure

Part One—Match Game: Dairy Style

1. Your instructor will provide you with a copy of the Dairy Facilities PowerPoint to share with your group that has photos numbered 1-6. Each photo is displaying a different type of dairy facility.

Lesson 1.3: How Can Dairy Facilities Be Designed?

2. With your group, correctly label photos 1-6 with the correct system from the word bank below and write a description of what you see in each picture.

3. Check your answers with the instructor before moving to #4.

Part Two—Dairy Industry Timeline

Photo #1: _______________________________________________Description:

Photo #2: _______________________________________________Description:

Photo #3: _______________________________________________Description:

Photo #4: ________________________________________________Description:

Photo #5: ________________________________________________Description:

WORD BANK

Free-Stall Barn Robotic Milking Unit Rotational Grazing

Pack Barn Stanchion Barn Tie-Stall Barn

Photo #6: _______________________________________________Description:

Part Two—What Should I Build?

Imagine you work for Dairy Construction Specialists , a company that specializes in building dairy facilities. You have just had a consult with a young farmer that can’t decide between what type of facility he wants to build.

As part of your consulting business, you must consider all of the benefits and consequences of any decision you offer to a customer. Using your knowledge of the 6 types of systems, your supervisor asks you to complete the following:

1. Prepare a document that lists 3 “Pros” and 3 “Cons” for each type of facility (Tie-Stall barn, Free-Stall Barn, Stanchion Barn, Robotic Milker, Pack Barn, and Grazing systems.)

2. Create a one-page advertisement for the system that you and your partner would recommend to the young farmer. Be sure to include estimated costs of the project, 3 reasons to build this system, and an overview of the contents of the design (i.e. milking parlor needs, gates, labor)

3. Your group will be presenting your one-page advertisement to the class as directed by your instructor.

Conclusion Questions

1. Which dairy housing system(s) allow cows to roam freely?

2. What are 2 benefits of a tie-stall barn?

3. Why would a farmer consider installing a robotic milking unit? Do you think it is worth the investment?

4. What are 2 drawbacks to a rotational grazing system?