Learning in the comfort of your home
Jeffery Bewley, Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University, for Progressive Dairyman
Have you ever wanted to
learn more about a particular
dairy-related subject? Have you
ever felt disadvantaged by not
having the educational background
of your co-workers? Have you
forgotten what you learned when
you were in college 30 years ago?
While reading magazine articles,
do you ever wish you could
have a little more background
information in order to have a
greater understanding of what
you are reading? Most of us could
answer yes to at least one of these
questions.
In the past, finding a solution
to these questions may have
required a significant amount of
time at a location far from home,
which is clearly not an option for
anyone directly involved in dairy
management. However, technology
has come to the rescue again.
Many universities and companies
have created online learning
opportunities to enable you to
continue your education without
ever leaving your own home.
These internet courses and
modules can be an invaluable
asset for anyone involved in the
dairy production process. The
level of sophistication varies from
simple text and graphic modules
of required reading material to
interactive audio and video. While
many of these programs result
in a certification of completion,
others can actually be taken for
college credit. Likewise, some of
the programs are completely free
while others charge tuition for
participation.
Many of the programs are
“self-paced”, allowing you to
complete them as time allows
without worrying about specific
due dates for completion of
activities or assignments. Another
advantage of participating in these
activities is the interaction you
have with producers from other
parts of the country, or even other
parts of the world.
Following is a list of some of
the opportunities for continuing
education in dairy science. Don’t
be discouraged if the topic you
are interested in is not listed
PROGRESSIVE
DAIRYMAN
here. Use a search engine to look
for opportunities in other areas
and you will likely find even
more opportunities. This list is
constantly changing as more
universities adopt this learning
Program
media to disseminate information
to producers. Take a look at some
of the course offerings here. You
are likely to find something that
will help you better manage your
dairy! PD
Website for more
Information
PROGRESSIVE
DAIRYMAN
Reprinted from April 2005
Course Selection
Principles of Dairy Production; Advanced
Dairy Management; Advanced Dairy Nutrition;
Advanced Reproductive Management; Milk
Secretion, Mastitis, and Quality
University of Illinois
Dairy Certificate Program
http://www.ao.uiuc.edu/ansci/class_info/
Moraine Park Technical College
http://www.morainepark.edu/academics/crseschedule/fall04/online/DairyRiskManagement.htm
Dairy Risk Management
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
http://www.witc.edu/online/dairy/herdmgmt.htm
Dairy Herd Management
Oregon State Animal
Sciences
https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/SOC/ECatalog/
ECourseDetail.aspx?subjectcode=ANS&coursenum=3
12&termcode=all
Feedstuffs and Ration Formulation
Cornell Animal Science
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/courses/as321/as321.html
Applied Animal Genetics
North Carolina State
Animal Science
http://distance.ncsu.edu/programs_courses/catalog/
summer05/dept/ANS.html
Feedmill Management and Ration Formulation
Pennsylvania State
University
http://www.onlinelearning.psu.edu/DHIA/
Dairy Record Analysis Training
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/dairy_
comp305
Introduction to DairyCOMP305, Data Structure,
and Data Access; Reproductive Records; Somatic
Cell Count Records
Purdue University Milking for Quality
http://www.milkquality.org/
Milk Quality and Mastitis
Nebraska Dairy
Certification Program
http://citnews.unl.edu/dairy/index.html
Forage, Breeding, Health, Labor Management
Joint effort of multiple universities, led by
UC Davis
http://dairybeef.ucdavis.edu/home.htm
Dairy Beef: Maximizing Quality and Profits
Iowa State University Continuing Education
and Communication Services
http://www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/courses/course.htm
Applied Ruminant Nutrition, Genetic Improvement
of Domestic Animals
University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary
Medicine Continuing Education
http://www.vetmedce.org/index.pl?op=course_catalog
Johne’s Disease Veterinary Certificate Program
Bioproducts, Inc. F.A.T. University
http://www.dairy1to1.com/fatu/intro.asp
Feeding Fat (Fatty Acid Technologies)
Dairy Quality University
http://www.dqacenter.org/university/
Dairy Quality Assurance Program Best
Management Practices
Purdue University
Department of
Agricultural Economics
http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/programs/
fbm21/FinanceCourse/course.asp
Measuring & Analyzing Farm Financial
Performance
The Livestock and Poultry Environmental
Stewardship Project
http://www.lpes.org/les_plans.html
Resources for environmentally sustainable
production systems
University of Maine
Livestock Team
http://www.umaine.edu/umext/pasture/
University of Minnesota DairyCOMP305
Online Training Curriculum
Pasture Management Home Study
PO Box 585 • Jerome, ID 83338-0585 • 208.324.7513 or 800.320.1424 • Fax 208.324.1133