Department: Animal Science

Course No: 4662W

Credits: 3

Title: Dairy Herd Management

Contact: Mike Darre

WQ: W

Catalog Copy: ANSC 4662 W. Dairy Herd Management 3 units. Second semester of odd numbered years. . Two class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Prerequisites: English 110 or111 and ANSC 275. Kazmer.

Dairy farm management practices with emphasis on business and economicdecision making. The effects of various programs in selection, nutrition, facilities, reproduction, and herd health on overall business health will be evaluated. Each student will manage a computer simulated herd during the semester. Field trips are required.

W Criteria: 1.The writing assignments enable and enhance learning the content of the course.

Quoting from syllabus:

"You will be required to write a total of two reports during the semester. The reports will be on management aspects of genetics, reproduction or nutrition (take your pick after discussing with instructor). For each literature report, you will investigate a topic using at least 3 recent (1995- 2003) articles from refereed journals.
You may also use popular press articles as sources in addition to journal articles."

2. The course requires a minimum of fifteen pages of revised, edited writing.

Continuing to quote from syllabus:

"Note that this class carries W skills course designation credit, and as such several review-revision cycles are required. Thus, I will return your reports to you twice for revisions. Then you must respond to my comments and resubmit a revised version."

And further:
"You will run an electronic dairy during the semester. An analysis of your herd's progress will be due at the end of the semester. We will discuss the ins and outs of the project report as the time draws near."

As discussed in class sometime after spring break, the project report consists of describing the goals set by students in managing their herds, the strategies employed to meet those goals and whether their strategies produced a herd that meet their goals.
Deadlines are set for Introduction, Goals and Strategies sections in advance of the semester's end and are subject to the review- revision process. Discussion of results, however, is not reviewed because of lack of time at semester's end. Including the reviewed segment of this semester project report with the two literature- based reports described above easily covers the 15 page requirement; 20-25 would be more typical.

3. The student must pass the “W” component in order to pass the course.

Quoting from the catalog description:

"Each student will manage a computer simulated herd during the semester and must fulfill requirements for "W" and "C" skill course designations to successfully complete the course."

Yeah, no more "C", but that's not really pertinent here. Adjusted copy will be submitted when new GER's are mandated.

4. The course syllabus must inform students of requirements (2.) and
(3.) and provide details concerning how those requirements will be met.

See previous responses.

Role of Grad Students: I have never used grad students as TA's for this class. Unfortunately, this is not a Dairy Science Department, and available grad students do not have the background necessary to put student reports into the appropriate perspective. So I would have to read and comment on all reports anyway.