Animal Care Training Resources
Resources and aids for dairy farm labor on-farm training and continuing education.
Access the FARM Animal Care Training Record here.
FARM Animal Care Version 4.0 Continuing Education Requirements
Version 4 of Animal Cares standards outline that all family and non-family employees should have annual training if the following areas if they hold responsibilities in the following areas:
- Stockmanship
- Calf Care
- Non-Ambulatory Animals
- Euthanasia
- Fitness to Transport
Examples of Potential Training Opportunities
The following is a list of potential training opportunities and programs that can be utilized for employee training:
- On-farm dairy industry stakeholder specialists
- Veterinarians
- Nutritionists
- Technical Service teams (Pharmaceutical, Reproduction, Milk Quality, etc.)
- University and Extension faculty and staff
- Beef Quality Assurance State Coordinators
- Attendance of Dairy Industry Meetings
- Formal Dairy Employee Training Programs
- Merck Dairy Care 365
- HR Mobile
- Dairy Coach
- Job Shadowing with Management
- Example: A new milker has been hired and he job shadows milker shift supervisor for a period of time. Management confirms with milker shift supervisor that the new employee is appropriately trained and can begin milking independently.
- Formal education
- Example: Animal husbandry class at university/college
- Continuing education class offering by dairy industry led program i.e. U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium, Penn State Online Dairy Production and Management
- Print and digital media training
- Example: FARM has a stockmanship training video available in the resources section of the website. Employees, over lunch break, watch the video in 5-10 minute segments throughout the month.
- Example: A new calf feeder has been hired for weekend feedings. There is a new article in Dairy Herd Management on proper feeding techniques and nutritional requirements that she reads and demonstrates to management that the process if fully understood.
This is not an exhaustive list of training opportunities so if there are questions as to if a certain type of opportunity is an acceptable form of training, please contact the FARM Animal Care Program at dairyfarm@nmpf.org or 888-567-2697.
Animal Care Training Resources
Antibiotic Stewardship
Videos
Antibiotics and Vaccines | Antibióticos y Vacunas | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Presenter: Francisco “Franco” Leal Yepes, DVM, PhD Candidate, Dept. of Animal Science and Resident Ambulatory and Production Medicine Clinic Hospital for Animals, Cornell University.
Injections are routinely used in dairy farms for several reasons, such as vaccination, reproductive management, and disease treatment (e.g., fluid therapy and antimicrobial injections). Proper application of injections is important to ensure success of treatments and reduce side effects.
Presentador: Francisco “Franco” Leal Yepes DVM, estudiante de doctorado y residente de medicina ambulatoria en Cornell University
El uso de inyecciones es una práctica cotidiana en los hatos lecheros por diferentes razones como vacunas, manejo reproductivo y tratamiento de enfermedades (ej. terapia de fluidos y antibióticos). La aplicación correcta de inyecciones es fundamental para obtener los resultados deseados con el tratamiento y disminuir los efectos secundarios.escription
Spanish
Antibiotic Resistance and Dairy Producers
WIFSS Outreach
Watch
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
AABP
Key elements for implementing antimicrobial stewardship plans in bovine veterinary practices working with beef and dairy operations.
Calf Care
Calf Disbudding
Disbudding calves | VIDEO
UC Davis Center for Animal Welfare
A step-by-step guide to disbudding calves using pain management
Watch
Disbudding Guide
University of Guelph
This site will walk you through when to disbud your dairy calves, what tools you will require and the steps involved in a successful disbudding event.
Learn More
Calf Health
Calf Scours Susceptibility
Alltech ® On-Farm Support
English & Spanish
Calf Management
Calf-Feeding Equipment Sanitation Protocol
Alltech ® On-Farm Support
English & Spanish
Handling Calves | Trabajando con Becerras | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Dr. Paula Ospina, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses the challenges of working with calves. She describes the best way to move and interact with calves for the benefit of both calves and people.
Spanish
YoungstockSignals®
Warning: this online training will open your eyes to how you run your farm. It’s full of sensible tips on how to improve the rearing of calves and yearlings. This video training explains clearly, in both theoretical presentations as practical with video lessons from the farm.
English & Spanish
Calf Medical Procedures
All dehorning should include pain control
Hoard’s Dairyman
PDF
American Association of Bovine Practitioners Dehorning Guidelines
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
These guidelines from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners serve to assist the veterinarian with enhancing the welfare of cattle on the clients’ farms by providing information on how best to approach dehorning and castration of calves on beef and dairy farms.
PDF
Castration Guidelines
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
This guideline from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners serves to assist veterinarians with enhancing the welfare of their client’s cattle by providing guidance related to castration of calves on beef and dairy operations. Essential to this process is that consultation occur between the herd veterinarian and the client regarding age of castration, castration technique and pain mitigation strategies that are appropriate for each operation. The use of written, herd specific protocols to document these discussions is encouraged. Such protocols should be reviewed on a regular basis.
PDF
Let’s leave painful dehorning in the past
Hoard’s Dairyman
PDF
Using Pain Mitigation when Disbudding
Progressive Dairy
Disbudding without pain control is painful! All methods work by removing or damaging horn-producing tissue, and all methods have been shown to cause pain when done without appropriate pain control.
Learn More
Calf Nutrition
Calf Nutrition | Alimentación de Becerros | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Rodrigo will review the basic biology and nutrition of the young calf. He will then tie that information with practical consideration for feeding and managing young calves.
Rodrigo hablará sobre la biología y nutrición básica del becerro. Conectará esta informración con consideraciones prácticas para la alimentación y manejo de becerros.
Using The Esophageal Tube Feeder | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Newborn Calves
Colostrum Management | VIDEO
Alltech® On-Farm Support
Watch
Core Principals of Pre-Weaned Calf Care: Colostrum and Calories
Cornell University Cooperative Extension
PDF
Flight Zone in Newborn Calves | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Harvest and Storage of Colostrum | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Heat and Cold Stress in Newborn Calves | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Newborn Calf Care: Using the Esophageal Tube Feeder | VIDEO
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
English | Spanish
Newborn Calf Handling | VIDEO
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
English | Spanish
Newborn Calf Processing | VIDEO
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
English | Spanish
Point of Balance in Newborn Calves | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Recommended Colostrum Feeding Techniques | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Transporting Newborn Calves | VIDEO
Iowa State University Extension
Watch
Disbudding
Calf Disbudding
Disbudding calves | VIDEO
UC Davis Center for Animal Welfare
A step-by-step guide to disbudding calves using pain management
Watch
Disbudding Guide
University of Guelph
This site will walk you through when to disbud your dairy calves, what tools you will require and the steps involved in a successful disbudding event.
Learn More
Euthanasia
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Guidelines for the Human Euthanasia of Cattle
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
PDF
Dairy Euthanasia: Making Timely Decisions Training Tool
Dairy Euthanasia: Making Timely Decisions Training Tool
North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
This training tool module will improve your understanding of timely euthanasia. Complete the training and case study examples for information on euthanizing compromised cattle in a timely manner with humane methods.
Fitness to Transport
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Transportation and Fitness-to-Travel Recommendations for Cattle
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
PDF
Herd Health
Dry Cows
DrytoFresh
Dry to Fresh course is for advisors and farmers that want to make dry cow management a priority. Our training course starts with the drying-off day and ends 4 weeks after calving. We explain dry period management from a variety of angles.
Spring Dairy Series: Understanding Inflammation & Immunity to Improve Transition Management
Phibro Animal Health
Inflammation is a key component of the immune system and it can be both beneficial and detrimental. Acute inflammation helps activate the full spectrum of immune mechanisms to protect the body from infection and even to trigger developmental adaptations. However, chronic inflammation results in subtle shifts in physiological function throughout the body which can contribute to the development of metabolic diseases. Knowledge on the benefits and risks of various forms of inflammation are essential in understanding how to manage dairy cows in all stages of production.
Fresh Cows
5 keys to healthy, productive fresh cows
Progressive Dairy
Learn More
Heat Stress
Recognizing Heat Stress in Dairy Cows
University of Florida Extension
English | Spanish
Temperature – Humidity Index Chart
Alltech ® On-Farm Support
English | Spanish
Impacts of Heat Stress Throughout the Lactation Cycle
Phibro Animal Health
Heat stress has dramatic negative impacts on dairy cow productivity throughout the lactation cycle. In this webinar we will review the degree that milk yield is reduced with heat stress in lactation and the physiological reasons for those effects. In addition, we will consider the effects of heat stress during the dry period, in particular the profound negative impacts of heat stress on mammary development, immune function and ultimately on productivity in the next lactation. Finally, we will discuss the effects of maternal heat stress on the developing fetus, where life-long deficits in productivity are observed.
Watch
Herd Health
Help teach workers to evaluate herd health
Progressive Dairy
Learn More
Hoof Health
Footbath protocols for success and simplicity
Progressive Dairy
Learn More
HoofSignals®
Cows’ hooves are the weakest link in their health and welfare. Cows that become lame – even slightly – will eat, drink and lie down less. They will therefore produce less milk and it will be more difficult to get them in calf. Plus they will need additional attention and work on an ongoing basis. Learn how to focus on prevention, so your time won’t be consumed by the treatment of lame cows anymore.
Learn More
Lameness
Lameness in Dairy Cows | Cojera en Vacas Lecheras | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Learn the basics of detecting lame cows, which promotes better animal welfare and helps the farm to save money.
Aprende los básicos de detectar vacas cojas, lo que promueva mejor bienestar de las vacas y ayuda al rancho para ahorrar dinero.
Spanish
Mastitis
Culturing and Types of Mastitis P1 | Sacando Muestras y Tipos de Mastitis | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Although mastitis results in changes in milk quality, it is not always caused by the same bugs. This webinar will focus on how you identify different bacteria focusing on the major differences between environmental and contagious causes of mastitis.
Aunque la mastitis siempre resulta en cambios en la calidad de leche, no es siempre causada por las mismas bacterias. Este entrenamiento enfocará en la identificación de bacteria enfocando en las diferencias entre las bacterias contagiosas y las que se encuentran en el medio ambiente causantes de mastitis.
Spanish
Milk Quality Part 2 | Calidad de Leche Parte 2 | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Although mastitis results in changes in milk quality, it is not always caused by the same bugs. Treatment and management decisions should reflect these differences. This webinar will focus on the differences in treatment and management practices based on mastitis type (environmental vs. contagious).
Aunque la mastitis siempre resulta en cambios en la calidad de leche, no es siempre causada por las mismas bacterias. Decisiones de tratamiento y manejo deben de tener esto en cuenta. Este entrenamiento enfocará en las diferencias en tratamiento y manejo basado en el tipo de mastitis (del medio ambiente vs. contagiosas).
Spanish
Milking Parlor
Best Practices in the Milk Parlor
Alltech ® On-Farm Support
English | Spanish
Milking Routine | VIDEO
Alltech® On-Farm Support
Watch
The Bilingual Training and Education Program to Improve Practices that Affect Milk Quality
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dairy Extension and Alltech®
This program has been designed to help dairy farm employees better understand the how’s and why’s of handling and milking cows. After completing each training module by viewing the short accompanying videos and resource materials, participants will complete a quiz to receive a certificate of completion for each module. Each training module includes videos presented in Spanish with English subtitles. The quizzes are offered in both English and Spanish, and the Spanish quizzes include audio translation. The videos include demonstrations of on-farm practices to emphasize key milking and management techniques.
View online training and free resource here
Record Keeping
The “Good Health Records” Program
Washington State University
Most dairies are just a few small changes away from more useful, informative health records by following the 3 simple rules of good recording. Learn what “Good Health Records” are, why dairies should have them and how easy they are to achieve.
Learn More
Switch Trimming
How to Transition Away from Tail Docking
PDF
Vaccinations
Update and review your vaccination protocols
Progressive Dairy
Learn More
Vaccination protocols and immune status of dairy herds
Progressive Dairy
Learn More
Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship | VCPR
Establishing and Maintaining the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship in Bovine Practice
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
The veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is an integral part of proper drug use on cattle operations. State and federal codified VCPRs regulate the practice of veterinary medicine legislatively. This document describes non-regulatory management practices endorsed by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) as general guidelines for its members to refer to during their course of practice
Non-Ambulatory Animals
Articles
Get It Right; Treat, Cull or Euthanize
Progressive Dairy
PDF
Key Decision Points for Non-Ambulatory Animals
Progressive Dairy
PDF
Modified Bucket for Moving Down Cows
Progressive Dairy
PDF
Proper Management of Non-Ambulatory Animals
Cornell University Cooperative Extension
PDF
Taking care of the ups and downs
Hoard’s Dairyman
PDF
The Who, When, What and How for Handling a Down Cow
Progressive Dairy
PDF
Stockmanship
Animal Handling Training Guides: Dairy
Animal Handling Training Guides: Dairy
UMASH has developed training guides to accompany the 5-part video series on Dairy Stockmanship.
These guides are intended for training by farmers, ranchers, farm employees, veterinarians, human resources training staff and those involved with worker health and safety training/education.
The guides can be a tool for training and retraining workers. The materials can be used in small groups or individually. There is a short quiz at the end of each video to check your understanding. After completing the five videos and related quizzes, a certificate of completion is available for printing.
Articles
Stockmanship Training with Curt Pate: It’s All about Pressure
Cornell University Cooperative Extension
PDF
CowSignals
Free Introduction
This introduction experience is free of charge and contains four training videos. You can watch these videos as many times as you like for 10 days. It’s up to you to take it to the next level and upgrade to a paid account at any time you like. No obligation, no catch. Just enjoy it!
CowSignals®
The CowSignals® concept is based on proven results.
What do I see? Why has this happened? What does it mean?
In this training you learn about the CowSignals® Diamond: feed, water, light, air, rest and space resulting in animal health.
CowSignals® (Señales de la vaca)
Este video curso es sobre compartir los secretos de la producción lechera. Aprenderás todo sobre los conceptos básicos de CowSignals®. ¿Que te dicen estas vacas? Estamos aprendiendo a ver todas las señales. Si eres cuidadoso en los detalles, podrás ser un mejor gerente y alcanzarás el máximo efecto: Vacas felices, productores felices, y un planeta feliz
Stressfree Stockmanship
We teach how to look and think from the cow’s point of view. How does she experience things? What makes her insecure? What are risk areas, where you need to be extra careful? We show you how to handle and move cows without any stress.
Online CowSignals® Advisor Course
You will get access to your personal learning journey in our online learning environment. It will be an interactive course, sharing ideas, and getting personal feedback. In this course, we combine practical cow-based knowledge with 1-to-1 advisor skills.
Videos & Webinars
Dairy Stockmanship – K’iche’
FARM / BQA / New Mexico Dairy Consortium
K’iche’
Flight Zone | VIDEO
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
English | Spanish
Handling Cattle in Alleys, Holding Areas and Milk Parlors | VIDEO
FARM / BQA / New Mexico Dairy Consortium
English | Spanish
Moving Cows and Cow Behavior | Manejo y Comportamiento de Vacas | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Collin will be sharing his knowledge and experience in moving and working with cows based on their natural behavior.
Collin va a compartir su conocimiento y experiencia en mover y trabajar con vacas, basado en su comportamiento natural.
Spanish
The Impacts of Stress on Dairy Cattle Health and Performance
Phibro Animal Health
The heritability of milk yield is 0.25 which means that the environment the cow is in accounts for 75% of the difference in milk yield between dairy cows. Stress is a major component of the environmental effects on milk yield and always increases basal maintenance cost of dairy animals which results in decreased energy available for production. High milk production is not a stress but some examples of stress include heat and cold stress, shipping stress, poor nutrition, poor milking management, inadequate facilities and disease. Acute stress activates the adrenal gland to secrete corticoids which help the animal adjust to the stress. However, chronic stress can impair the immune system of the cow leading to increased disease. Management alterations which reduce the stress or inhibit the stress response in animals can improve animal performance and health.
Watch
The Movement of Cows to and From the Parlor| El Movimiento de Vacas | VIDEO
Cornell Pro-Dairy Program
Presenter: Dr. Paula Ospina DVM, PhD, MPH, QMPS, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine
Presentadora: Dr. Paula Ospina, DVM, PhD, MPH, Doctora Veterinaria en el departamento de servicios de producción de leche de buena calidad de la universidad de Cornell
Spanish
Using Tools to Move Animals | VIDEO
FARM / BQA / New Mexico Dairy Consortium
English | Spanish
Using Pressure and Release | VIDEO
FARM / BQA / New Mexico Dairy Consortium
English | Spanish
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the National Milk Producers Federation or the National Dairy FARM Program of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The National Milk Producers Federation and the National Dairy FARM Program bear no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Certificate Generation
Dairy farmers and managers are encouraged to create a certificate documenting completed continuing education and training.
Fill out the spaces below to generate the certificate or click here to download the fillable PDF.