Life Cycle of Dairy Cattle
Teacher Preparation
Learning Goals
1. Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to understand and explain the life cycle of dairy cattle.
Critical Vocabulary:
- Calf
- Cow
- Newborn
- Heifer
- Yearling
- Mature
- Holstein
- Jersey
- Weaning
- Peak Lactation
- Dry Cow
2. Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to understand how producers care for dairy cattle during their lifetime
Learning Standards
- SS: 6.4 The student will analyze the interactions of humans and their environment in the
Western Hemisphere.
- 6.4.1 Describe the commercial agriculture and industrial regions that support human development
- 6.4.2 Evaluate the effects of human modification on the natural environment through transformation caused by subsistence and commercial agriculture, industry, demand for energy, and urbanization.
- OKH.6.2 Analyze the impact of economic growth in various sectors including:
- C. Continuing role of agriculture
Resources & Materials
- VT Life Cycle
- Southwest - southland dairy farmers Milk. From Cows to Kids
- NC State Feeding Dairy Heifers
- EPA Lifecycle Production Phases
- US Jersey A Quality Heifer
- PSU Daiy Heifer Growth
- Visuals in the center
- Student tour guides
Lesson Delivery
Anticipatory Set
- How do people grow? - Life stages of people, as a basis for comparison
- Provide students with images of people at various life stages to equate to various
life stages of
cattle
- Infant, child, teenager, adult, elderly
- Ask them to come up with multiple differences between each age group and what they
can or can’t do and what makes them able to do those things at different ages.
- Ex) Babies can’t walk but children can because their legs are stronger, children can't drive but adults can because adults can get a license, etc.
- Explain that the same is true in the cows that give us milk; they are able to different things at different life stages.
- Today we are going to learn about cattle at different life stages and learn the vocabulary words used to describe those stages.
- Provide students with images of people at various life stages to equate to various
life stages of
Direct Instruction
1st Learning Goal: Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to understand and explain the life cycle of dairy cattle. (From VT Life Cycle and NC State Feeding Diary Heifers)
Content Outline |
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Newborn Calf
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6-month-old heifer
|
Yearling
|
2-year-old Cow
|
Mature Cow
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Learning Activity
Students could be provided with a bingo style sheet with blanks in informational sentences about dairy cows for them to fill in.
- Ex.) A _____ is where newborn calves live for 6-8 weeks (calf hutch)
Assessment
- Instructor could ask questions throughout or at the completion of the lesson like
- “What are the breeds of cows we learned about?” (Holstein and Jersey)
- “What happens when a cow turns 2?” (She has a baby and she can be milked or the first time)
- What’s one of the differences between a calf and a cow? (cows give milk, calves live in hutches, calves eat from bottles, etc.)
- How long are cows milked for at a time? (about 10 months)
- When are calves weaned from their mother? (12 to 24 hours after birth)
2nd Learning Goal: Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to understand how producers care for dairy cattle during their lifetime. (From Milk. From Cows to Kids)
Content Outline |
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Feeding
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Cow comfort
|
Assessment
Instructor should ask questions like:
- “What are some ways farmers help cows stay comfortable?” (Fans, beds, etc.)
- “What are some ways farmers make sure cows are getting the feed they need?” (Ear tags, special feeders, etc.)
- How long do cows spend eating a day? (6-7 hours)
Closing Announcements/Reminders
- Answer any questions they may have
- Show them the robot and viewing windows one more time
- Thank students for coming to the Ferguson Family Dairy