Some of the highlights over the past two years include the hoof trimming workshop, A.I. training, on-farm milking labs at farms ranging from 250 to 500 cows, touring over 45 dairy farms, as well as a milking goat farm, Ritchie's feed mill, two veal farms, EastGen, Foundation Sires, the Animal Health Laboratory, and the Penta TMR manufacturing facility and a trip to Algonquin College to learn about plumbing for a day.    

 The program has attracted attention from a wide range of farms with farmers milking between 25 and 500 cows sending their sons, daughters and employees off to learn the theory behind what they are doing every day in the barn. 

 

The program was beneficial to everyone, as the discussions in class involve farmers from all different systems including tie-stall, free stall, pack barns, robotic and organic – last year there was even a seasonal producer. 

This wide range of students allows for lively discussion and reinforces the important points in a lecture or bring up debate involving new and interesting ways to handle problems on the farm. 

Talking to people working in the dairy industry is one of the best ways to learn and so the herdsperson apprenticeship program is full of guest speakers, farm tours and on-farm labs in the new Robotic Dairy Education and Innovation Center at the Kemptville Campus.

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The Dairy Herdsperson Program is subsidized by the Ontario government through the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities and apprentices may also qualify for funding from the Growing Your Farm Profits workshop. 

While a grade 12 diploma or GED equivalency is required to enter the program, it is also possible to complete one year of in-school and on-farm work while in high school if taken through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

If you'd like more information about the dairy apprenticeship program, please call Shelly Byrne at (613) 258-8336  ext. 61345 or email her.  PD

—From University of Guelph news release

PHOTO
Dairy apprentices went to BenOaks dairy farm in Shanly where they met up with Carolyn Turner for a barn meeting on classifying. Photo courtesy of University of Guelph.