Getting
Down and
Dirty on
the dairy
farm with
Emma
& Jet
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma

Emma and Jet
• My name is Emma I am 16. As part
of my HSC I am doing a dairy
traineeship at Clover Hill Dairies.
• My name is Jet. I am also doing a
dairy traineeship with Alan and
Leesa Swan at Hillview Dairy.

Hi Hi
I’m Jet
I’m Emma

Visit our new Website
News
Flash
www.dairyyouthaustralia.com.au

Cream of the Crop Competition
Dairy Youth Australia and Landlearn NSW have launched
the Cream of the Crop Competition - a great opportunity
for NSW students to win $1000 and get published
• The Cream of the Crop Competition is open to students in
NSW Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions studying
Agriculture, Primary Industries or Natural Resource
Management related topics.
• There is over $4500 in prize money on offer with an awards
ceremony scheduled for the
Sydney Royal Easter Show, 2010. Want to
• For full details and entry form visit: win
$1000?
www.dairyyouthaustralia.com.au/competition

Today we are going to find
What are we going to out why Jet and Emma
learn about dairy
farming today ????? decided they would like to
work on a dairy farm

How it all started
Jet and Emma began their
careers in the dairy industry after
being part of a Strezlecki Lion’s
Club dairy industry school project
called

Want to
know how it
all works?
Well read on

Jenna Thompson from the Lake
Times newspaper interviewed
Emma last year.
Lets see what Emma had to say
to Jenna about Cows Create
Careers.

So now you have an idea how it all works !!!
Cows Create Careers is a 6 week program.
First of all a local farmer donates two calves to Jet and Emma and their
the school to raise for 3 weeks. friends Natalie and
The students monitor the progress of the calves Lauren created a great
and do a PowerPoint presentation. PowerPoint
The reward for effort for the best school is $500. presentation.
Last year Jet and Emma’s school was the best Would you like to see
senior school in their region. it?
Yes please !!!

Everybody works in
teams.
Jet and Emma’s
team is called Cattle
Grids

Okay.
Everyone gather round
This is the
“A to Z Story of Dairy”
by Jet, Emma and
Natalie

rtificial insemination
• Artificial insemination is when sperm is taken from a bull and processed, stored
and then artificially introduced back into the female reproductive system for
conception to occur. AI is now one of the most and reliable forms for artificial
insemination used for mostly dairy cattle. Some advantages of using this method
include:
 Maximum use of superior sires.
 Early detection of infertile bulls
 Elimination of danger from handling wild bulls.
However there are a few disadvantages when using AI, which can be overcome through
proper management. These include: A human detection of heat is required.
Success or failure of AI depends on how well this task is performed. Proper
implementation of AI requires special training, skill and practice.
HOME

obby Calves
• A bobby calf is a bull calf that is less than six weeks old and is not
accompanied by its mother. Young calves get stressed and diseased very
easily. If you produce or sell or transport bobby calves, you need to pay
close attention to how you manage them. Think about using good animal
welfare practices and avoid practices which will result in high stress levels.
• The Code protects very young calves by saying that all calves presented for
sale should:
. be in their 5th day of life or older
. have dry withered navel cords
. have been fed within 6 hours prior to delivery to the point of sale or
collection
. be over 23 kg live weight
. be fit and strong enough to be transported for sale or
slaughter.

ell count
Somatic cell count is the total number of cells per milliliter in milk. SCC is
made-up of white blood cells that are produced by the cow’s immune
system to fight an inflammation in the mammary gland or mastitis.
Since the white blood cells in the udder increase and the inflammation
worsens, SCC gives information on the degree if mastitis in an
individual cow or in the herd.
However they are ways to monitor SCC. The most common method is to
do herd recording. This is when each individual cow’s milk is tested and
sent away. Results will be sent back with the Somatic cell count of
each cow.

airy Farm Hand
A Dairy Farm Hand’s work is mainly concerned with milk production. Dairy
Farm Hand’s perform a variety of duties, depending on their area of
specialization. Dairy Farm Hands may perform the following tasks:
• Prepare milking machinery and assist with all milk harvesting
• Feed livestock
• Be involved with breeding and raising of livestock
• Clean and sterilize milking machines
• Clear away animal waste and hose out operational areas.
• Cultivate soil, sow crops and control weeds
• Operate tractors and hand tools
• Assist in artificial Insemination
• Maintain and repair farm buildings, fences, machinery, troughs
and other equipment
However being a dairy farm had can be physically demanding with
long hours.

.t .T
• A cow normally produces only one egg per estrous cycle
(which lasts 21 days) and the gestation period is 40 weeks.
On average, a cow produces only 2-3 calves in her lifetime.
Therefore, without intervention, the rate of improving the genetic status of a heard
with a particularly desired cow is slow.
• However, recent advances in techniques for embryo transplantation are
transforming the rate of genetic improvement. The following stages are carried out
for E.T:
• Cows of particularly fine pedigree are treated with hormones to increase the
number of eggs released at ovulation.
• The cows are artificially inseminated using semen from a proven bull
• After 6-7 days the embryos are flushed out non-surgically, using a catheter placed
into the uterus.
• On average, 4-7embryos are collected
• The embryos may then be implanted into recipient cows
whose oestrous cycle is at the correct receptive stage.

oot Rot
• Foot rot is a hoof infection that is commonly found in cattle, sheep and
goats. Foot rot rots away the foot of the animal, mainly the area
between the two toes of the affected animal. It is extremely painful
and contagious. It can be treated with a series of medications but if
not treated the whole herd can become infected.
• The cause of the infection in cattle is two anaerobic bacteria (bacteria
that can grow without oxygen), Fusobacterium necrophorum and
Bacteroides melaninogenicus.

estation
• Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female
viviparous. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more
gestations at the same time. The time interval of a gestation plus 2
weeks is called gestation period and the length of time plus 2 weeks
that the offspring have spent developing in the uterus is called
gestational age.
• In mammals, pregnancy begins when a fertilized zygote is implanted
into the females uterus and ends once it leaves the uterus.
• The average gestation period in cattle is 283 days.

eifer
• A heifer is a young female cow before she has had her first calf.
It is very important that heifers are well looked after and treated well as
they will become replacements for your milking herd. There are many
requirements heifers need.
• With a lot of intensive care a female calf is reared until she is able to cope
on her own. From weaning, it will take a heifer 15 months to grow to a size
that is suitable for her to be mated.
• Heifers need a constant source of protein for best bone and muscle growth
and a clean environment. The objective of rearing heifers is to produce an
animal that is 80-85% of mature live weight by first calving.

nteresting Facts
• Cows can detect odors up to 5 miles away
• Cows can see colour
• A cow stands up and lies down about 14 times a day
• Per day, a cow spends 6 hours eating and 8 hours chewing cud
• A cows heart beats between 60-70 beats per minute
• Cows can hear lower and higher frequency's better than humans
• The oldest cow ever recorded was Big Bertha. She reached 48 in
1993 and holds the record for producing 39 calves.
• Twelve cows are know as a “flink”
• Cows have almost total 360-degree panoramic vision
• Cows can live 25years if people would let them

ersey
Jersey’s are a small, honey-brown breed renowned for the high butterfat
content of their milk.
The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey (small British island in
the English Channel) and is one of the oldest dairy breed.
The main factor contributing to the popularity of the breed has been their
greater economy of production. This is due to the ability to carry a
larger number of effective milking cows per unit area.
They are more tolerant of heat that the larger breeds and are excellent
grazers, performing well in intensive grazing programs.

idney
• Kidneys play a vital role in the excretory system; they help balance the
water level in the blood. They remove nitrogenous wastes and produce
urine. They also discard any unwanted bodily waste. Just like humans,
the kidney is an important part in the body if a cow. It is one of the
organs that cows and humans cannot survive without. Without the
kidney, toxins in our body would build up and we would die, just like
the cow.

actation
• Once a calf is born its mother produces colostrum to help boost the calf
immune system and help prevent any disease. After a couple of days
the cow will then start to produce milk for about 300 days, which is
called the lactation period. On average a cow may produce 5000 litres
per lactation period, which is an average of 17 litres per day. However,
the amount of milk produced is not the same everyday. More milk is
produced at the start of lactation and less towards the end of the
lactation period.
• About 60 days after calving the cow will be mated again so that she
will have a calf to initiate milk production in 9 months
from mating or next lactation.

astitis
• Mastitis is a common infection in cows. When a cow gets mastitis the
tissue and the milk will change. The milk will become lumpy and the
infected quarter will become very hard, may turn red and become hot.
An increase in somatic cells will also change. Mastitis can be treated by
inserting penicillin into the inflamed gland.
• There are a few ways in which mastitis can be prevented. These
include:
• Thoroughly cleaning the dairy after each milking.
• Isolate cow
• Keep contaminated milk away from proceeds.
This will avoid the whole milk supply having to be
chucked out because of contamination.

utrition
• It is extremely important that cows get the full nutrition they need in
order to have enough energy to produce quality milk. Through out a
cows life, each nutrition requirement needs to be met on a daily basis.
• A newborn calf must receive a sufficient amount of high quality
colostrum in the first 6 hours of their life. Colostrum is a special milk
containing lots of vitamins, minerals, protein and energy, which
provided the calf with life-boost and a protection against disease.
• A heifer must receive enough protein and energy to be able to put on
enough fat in order for her to be mated with a bull.
• A cow must receive enough protein and energy in order for
her to produce a substantial amount of quality milk.

vulation
Day 0 of the heat cycle is the first day of heat. This is the period of the
heat cycle in which the cow will stand to be mounted by the bull or herd
mate. Under continuous surveillance with the HeatWatch system, it was
observed that cows are in heat for only 6 to 8 hours. During this time,
there is a structure on the ovary known as the follicle. The follicle is a
fluid filled blister-like structure that contains the egg. The follicle also
produces the hormone estrogen and it is this hormone that is
responsible for the increase in vaginal mucous.

edometer
Cows in oestrus have increased activity. The level of activity of an
individual cow can be measured by using pedometers (monitoring
distance walked) or neck chain monitors (measuring movement of the
head). The level of activity is indicative of oestrus activity data which is
read by an antenna, when cows enter the milking parlor.
Cows with high activity relative to their previous baseline may be in
oestrus. Although pedometers or neck chain monitors are less accurate
than some other technologies for predicting oestrus, they may be more
robust and simpler to use.

- Fever
• Q-Fever is a disease that is caused by an infection with Coxiella
burnetii, a bacterium that affects both humans and animals. This
organism can be found in cattle. The infection results from inhalation of
contaminated particles in the air and from contact with the vaginal
mucus, milk, feces, urine or semen of infected animals. The incubation
period is 9-40 days and is considered possibly the most infectious
disease in the world. However, treatment of the Q-Fever with
antibiotics is very effective.
• Q-Fever can be prevented by intrademal vaccination with a vaccince
composed of killed Coxiella burnetii organisms.

umen
The Rumen, also known as the Fermentation vat or Paunch, is the first
sector of the stomach. This is where most food is collected after eating
and then sent back up to the mouth as cud to thoroughly be chewed
by the cow again. This forms the larger part of the reticulorumen; This
is the first chamber in the digestive tract. It is the primary site for
“Microbial fermentation” of ingested food. Cows have a rumen as they
have four stomachs.

pringer
• A springer is either a cow or a heifer that has 2-3weeks left until they
calve. Spinger’s will begin to form an udder and a stomach in the last
few weeks of pregnancy. They are usually placed in paddocks close to
the dairy or the farmers house, so they can be monitored. Springer’s
need to be supplied with the right nutrition and energy to assist them
with calving.

est Buckets
• Using test buckets is very important as if there is a cow that had been
treated with antibiotics or is fresh then her milk can not go into the vat.
Having test buckets available allows the cow to still be milked but
prevents her milk going into the vat and contaminating the rest of the
proceeds.

ltrasound
• Dairy farmers especially, have been quick to grasp the benefits of using
ultrasound pregnancy testing on their herds. What was once a slow,
stressful practice, with often very variable results in accuracy is now a
streamline operation. There are many benefits with using ultrasound.
These include:
• Less stressful
• Accurate.
• Quicker throughput
• Cost effective
• Preg scan earlier
• Identify late calvers

accination
Vaccinations are extremely important as they prevent many diseases
in cattle. There are many different types of vaccinations that prevent
a wide range of diseases. Some of these include:
killed vaccines, live strain vaccines, antitoxin injections, and immune
response vaccines.
Black disease, black leg, tetanus, red water and tick fever are some of
the diseases that vaccinations prevent.
Disease risk needs to be properly managed to prevent devastating
effects on animal performance. A good way to do this is by having a
vaccination program. This will minimise the need for antibiotics and
should reduce losses from preventable diseases.

ater
• Water plays a crucial part in the lives of calves. Water keeps the calves
healthy and dehydrated. Water makes up 70-75% of a calf’s body
weight. Which inturn helps them produce quality milk. Calves are very
susceptible to diseases from a young age and by having fresh water
available at all times this assists in preventing and treating fatal
diseases.

enophobic
• Xenophobic is being afraid or having a phobia of strangers. Calves are
very fragile creature and get scared very easily. Therefore you could
say calves are xenophobic creatures. Stress can come from xenophobia
and is unhealthy for calves. If a calf became very stressed out than
they could potentially get ill or catch a disease.

eild
Yielding is another term for producing. Just like a chicken
yields eggs a cow yields milk.
There are many factors that contribute to the amount of milk a cow yields.
Factors include how old the cow is, the health of the cow (if the cow is
sick then obviously it may not produce as much milk as usual), the size
of the cow (if the cow is a small build, it may not produce as much as a
cow that is larger in size), and nutrition (if a cow is not fed the right
food for her needs, this may show in how much milk she produces)

oologist
• Zoologists are scientists concerned with the study of animals, their
anatomy, physiology, ecology, evolution and embryology. They work in
many different roles. For example, environmental zoologists and
conservationists are responsible for protecting wildlife in a particular
area. Zoologist may be able to work in field surveying, recording and
monitoring animal species and conducting scientific surveys of natural
habitats.
• Most zoologists are employed by colleges and universities where they
teach and do research.

Wow I learnt a lot of stuff I Well we have certainly got all
didn’t know before. the necessary credentials !!!
Perhaps we can see if we can We know how to raise calves
do the Cows Create Careers and we are certainly getting the
program next year. hang of this PowerPoint stuff !
What do you think??

If your school would like to
be part of the program
and have a chance of
winning $500.
Why don’t you give John
and Deanne a ring ???
We think John and Dee
are the best.
We know you will too.

Visit our new Website
www.dairyyouthaustralia.com.au

Jet and Emma Farm Management
Education Series K to 12
Links
Milk It
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma-milk-it
Cups On Cups Off
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma-cups-on-cups-off
Grow Grass Grow
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma
Seeding Time
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma-seeding-time-1236604
How it all began – a Taste for Dairy
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/jet-and-emma-a-taste-for-dairy
Healthy Landscapes
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/dairy-farming-with-jet-and-emma-healthy-landscape-1641792
Circle of Life – Calf to Cow
http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW/circle-of-life-calf-to-cow

Acknowledgements
Farm yard animal graphics have been created
for the “Jet and Emma Get Down and Dirty
on the Farm” series by students from Mt Terry
Public School

Cream of the Crop
is a Dairy Youth Australia Inc initiative
supported by funding from
Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
Farming for the Future Initiative.

The Jet and Emma Series is a Dairy Youth
Australia inc initiative assisted by Kiama
Municipal Council through its Sustainable
Living Grants Program.

Watch
this
space
we will
be back
soon