College - Author 1
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Department - Author 1
Dairy Science Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Dairy Science
Date
12-2009
Primary Advisor
Leane Berning, Stan Henderson
Abstract/Summary
Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy is one of the great traits that the University holds. However it is this philosophy that is also one of the most expensive and hardest to maintain. “Production agriculture majors use more dollars per unit than any other major in the entire college,” as Dr. Golden stated during his talks about herd cut backs. Never the less the College of Agriculture prides itself on supplying knowledgeable and experienced students to the industry that supports it so much. One of the amazing classes that are offered at the university is the Dairy Science Artificial Insemination and Embryo Biotechnology commonly known as DSCI 330 A.I class.
This class is integral in the education of Dairy and Animal Science students combined because not only does it teach the students about the anatomy and methods of Artificial Insemination but it also gives the students the one on one interaction and experience with animals. What makes the course so unique is that it sends you away with a Certificate in Artificial Insemination that you can take to a perspective employer and show the employer that you are a certified breeder. However it is these specific courses that require so much time, effort and money to put together. The Cal Poly Dairy is a 150-cow herd and does not have the volume of disposable cows that a larger commercial herd would have. Therefore it takes a lot of money and time invested to build a stock of 30 cull cows for the students to practice on.
The author is proposing for his senior project to design, implement, and analyze a program that retrieves cows from commercial dairies at the time that they are needed for the class. The author will be in charge of acquiring and managing the cattle from point of origin to Cal Poly, during the cattle’s stay here at the Cal Poly Dairy, and then from on the cattle’s return from Cal Poly to the point of origin. The project will entail a cost estimate analysis on the cows at their arrival to the facility. A health inspection, mainly repro-tract of each animal, maintenance of the animals as they are used by the students, and then a cost analysis as the animals leave the facility. The author will calculate average weight lost or gained. Any other information or analysis requested by the Senior Project Advisor will be completed as well.
The overall idea and goal of the project it to save the Dairy Department money while keeping the class available and functioning for the students. The Author is open to any and all critique of the project and looks forward to making it a successful endeavor.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/dscisp/25