The fourth largest rural industry, dairy farming generates billions of dollars every year. Online agricultural courses offer practical foundational knowledge on a range of topics including dairy cattle management.

Ideal for dairy farmers and dairy farm hands, our Certificate of Dairy Cattle and Farming will teach you about general husbandry, the management of lactation cycles, the nature and scope of the dairy industry and products, and how to select breeds for specific farming situations. You will also learn about breeding programs, how to manage animal wellbeing, facilities and machinery maintenance, and understand the factors that contribute to the quality and quantity of milk production.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking online agricultural courses include:

• Learning about dairy breeds, how to choose one and dairy breed comparison
• Exploring the Ayrshire, Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein – Friesian, Brown Swiss and the Milking or Dairy Shorthorn
• Gaining an understanding of dairy products, the composition of milk and protein, lactose and ash
• Studying factors that affect the composition of milk and the lactation cycle
• Examining feed, weather, the stages of mining, incomplete milking and the frequency of milking
• Understanding disturbance and dipping, cow individuality, breeds and the course of lactation
• Attaining knowledge of gestation, oestrus and gestation, disease and what milk should contain
• Gaining insights into oxidation and lipolysis
• Learning about the milk producing days of the cow and the influence of the farmer on lactation
• Exploring infertile cows, feeding, the milking shed and planning for feed
• Gaining an understanding of collecting and analysing data
• Studying climate, soil type, irrigation, aspect and slope and natural pastures
• Examining how to manage the feed flow and planning the new feed flow program
• Understanding the pests and diseases of dairy cattle
• Attaining knowledge of mastitis, mastitis-causing organisms and contagious bacteria
• Gaining insights into mastitis detection – cell counts and mastitis control
• Learning about an effective shed or parlour routine
• Exploring milking equipment, how to treat mastitis and dry cow therapy
• Gaining an understanding of the difficulties of treating lactating cows and drying off – the danger period
• Studying the five-point control plan against mastitis and viral and bacterial diseases in cattle
• Examining the signs of health in cattle
• Understanding viral, bacterial, parasitic and protozoal diseases
• Attaining knowledge of feeding dairy cattle and working out dairy rations
• Gaining insights into the maintenance requirements for a dairy cow
• Learning about production requirements and how to work out the total needs of a dairy cow
• Exploring the dairy ration and how to work out the cost of dairy rations
• Gaining an understanding of how to manage dairy cattle, the dairy heifer and how to mange and feed the heifer
• Studying growth, how to measure growth and the factors affecting growth
• Examining the age of breeding, the dairy cow and the management of the dairy cow
• Understanding the factors affecting the general health of a cow and the milk yield
• Attaining knowledge of breed, the lactation curve and milking frequency
• Gaining insights into heat stress and feeding
• Learning how to breed dairy cattle and animal breeding programs
• Exploring the ultimate aims in any breeding program
• Gaining an understanding of priorities, dual purpose animals and artificial selection
• Studying selection intensity, the generation interval and the heritability
• Examining selection for milk yield, gene groups, regression and selection using family groups
• Understanding how to estimate the transmitting value of a bull from a family group
• Attaining knowledge of the disadvantages of inbreeding
• Gaining insights into performance, sib and progeny testing
• Learning about contemporary comparisons and relative breeding values (RBV)
• Exploring artificial insemination, synchronised heats and ova transplants
• Gaining an understanding of managing dairy facilities and the basic requirements of all dairies
• Exploring the sanitary trap, releaser, pipelines, different types of systems and how to choose one
• Gaining an understanding of a normal cowshed, abreast mining shed, herringbone shed and open sided shed
• Studying turntable milking, handling facilities, computers and the four essential points when choosing a milking system
• Examining vacuum stability, udder stimulation, milk quality and emergency facilities
• Understanding dairy business planning, the economics of dairying and business plans
• Attaining knowledge of variable costs per litre, break-even production and the worth of a heifer calf
• Gaining insights into how long a cow not in calf should be kept

And more!

Best Breeds for Dairy Production

As you’ll learn in online agricultural courses that focus on dairy farming, some cattle breeds are preferred for use on a dairy farm. There are many reasons for this. They may give a greater quantity or quality of milk, but certain breeds suit certain climates. Other breeds may adapt better to the feed available or for one reason or other, suit the market they are catering to.

Popular Global Breeds

Breeds commonly used for dairy production around the world include:

• Ayrshire
• Brown Swiss
• Busa
• Canadienne
• Dairy Shorthorn
• Dutch Belted
• Estonian Red
• Fleckvieh
• Friesian
• Girolando
• Guernsey
• Holstein
• Illawarra
• Irish Moiled
• Jersey
• Kerry
• Lineback
• Meuse Rhine Issel
• Milking Devon
• Montbéliarde
• Normande
• Norwegian Red
• Randall
• Sahiwal

Popular Australian Breeds

The most popular dairy breed in Australia is the Holstein/Friesian. These black and white cows originate from the Netherlands via America and are known for their large size, high milk production and docile temperament.

The second most popular breed in Australia are Jerseys. Originating from the English Channel Island Jersey, these cows are smaller in stature and caramel-coloured, producing a smaller volume of milk which is rich in protein and butterfat. These cows are popular, especially on grass grazing farms, because of their size, hardiness and fertility.

Other dairy breeds available in Australia include Australian Reds, Guernsey, Brown Swiss and many others which all have their own benefits. Many farmers also have cross-bred cows, which may be a mix of two or more breeds. Cross-bred cows are known for their heat tolerance, hardiness, fertility and good milk production.

Current State of the Australian Dairy Industry

According to Dairy Australia, the 2020/21 season proved to be one of most profitable for Australia’s dairy industry. Following a year of close-to-record returns, conditions remain supportive for farm profitability. Most dairy regions reported their highest average returns since 2013/14.  Queensland and NSW returns were the highest in over a decade.Gippsland and Tasmania were the only exceptions, where returns were the second best over this period.

Global dairy markets are contributing to this promising outlook, as commodity prices continue to rise at a time when supply is tight. Freight remains a challenge, and some importers have purchased more products to ensure supply, which has further supported commodity values.

In Australia, above average storms, rain and cold fronts have weighed on per-cow yields, caused flooding in some regions and disrupted harvest proceedings. Silage-making efforts have been delayed in some regions and less hay is expected to be made this year. Nevertheless, with a significant amount of fodder left in store and plentiful pasture growth, demand remains subdued. Wet weather has also helped to replenish water storage sites and the cost of temporary irrigation water has continued to fall.

As such, strong competition for milk is also expected to remain a feature of the processing landscape going forward.

Seven Key Drivers of the Australian Dairy Industry

If you are thinking about undertaking online agricultural courses, including learning more about dairy farming, then it’s worth understanding a little more about the key drivers of the Australian dairy industry.

1. Global Supply

   – Milk production has slowed in the four key exporting regions this spring, supporting commodity prices. Wet weather has weighed on milk flows in the southern hemisphere, while higher feed costs and culling have impeded growth in the United States (US) and Europe. For now, global supply is expected to remain fairly tight, at least until the northern hemisphere spring commences.

2. Australian Market

   – Consumer confidence continues to improve as Australians enjoy newfound freedoms. Shoppers are spending more money through foodservice venues, while retail demand for dairy remains strong. Retail sales of yellow spreads and milk have stabilised from the panic-buying highs of 2020 but remain above 2019 levels.

3. Global Demand

   – Global demand for dairy has improved as more countries re-emerge from lockdowns. Freight remains a constant challenge and has seen some buyers rush to place additional orders to ensure supply. While this is currently supporting commodity prices, growing inventories may dampen demand once product movement improves.

4. Inputs

   – Above average rain has created challenges for the grain harvest and fodder conservation this spring. While hay and temporary irrigation prices are subdued, the cost of grain and fertiliser has increased. Access and availability of labour as well as machinery and suitable parts also remains a challenge.

5. Global Economy

   – While the global economy continues to recover, many challenges remain and the International Monetary Fund has downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2021. Ongoing lockdowns in key regions, including in some provinces in China, are weighing on the recovery, while surging energy costs and supply chain pressures further undermine short-term outlooks.

6. Australian Production

   – Wet weather and cold fronts have impacted per-cow yields this spring. Other factors including labour shortages, firm beef and land values, and business diversification also weigh on milk production.

7. Exchange Rates

   – The Australian dollar ($AU) has remained relatively stable against the US dollar ($US) this spring. Given rising inflation pressures, several analysts forecast the US Federal Reserve will increase rates in 2022. If realised, this is likely to strengthen the $US against other major currencies.

Reference: 2021, Situation & Outlook Report, Dairy Australia

Develop an understanding of how to create a business plan for the successful management of a dairy property with online agricultural courses like our Certificate of Dairy Cattle and Farming.