Dairy students test knowledge

Competition opens eyes to variety of management techniques

By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press

TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- University dairy students came from all over western North America to Twin Falls to put their studies to the test last week.

The 2010 Western Regional North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge gave 45 dairy science students an opportunity for real-world application of their knowledge.

Students were split into aggregate teams of five, working with students from other areas with different climatic challenges and management styles.

They descended on the Roth family's White Clover Dairy in Jerome, with teams dispersing in different directions to evaluate drylots, feed stocks, parlors and pens. Their mission was to identify issues, perform an evaluation and come up with recommendations.

"They've got to take all the tools and all the exposure they've had to reproduction, nutrition and general dairy management and assess the problems and issues that need to be addressed," said Reagon Hatch, local coordinator.

Three hours later, the students reconvened to ask questions of dairy manager Todd Roth.

And ask they did. Although they were given all the dairy's data, they wanted to know more about cull rates, breeding and milking protocols, stocking rates, death rates, rations, feed and transportation costs, semen costs, climate control, health practices, wages and barn and parlor maintenance.

Teams then had five hours to put together a presentation.

"They put together everything they've learned then apply it to a real dairy," said Amin Ahmadzadeh, associate professor of dairy science at the University of Idaho and co-chairman and organizer of the event.

"It teaches you analytic skills you need for life," said Chloe Dixon of Seattle, a senior at Washington State University.

The competition also gives students a chance to observe and discuss management practices that might be different from what they've seen during their academic training.

"It teaches you how different dairies operate across North America," said Wendy Hudson of Edmonton, Alberta, a senior at the University of Alberta.

"You get exposure to how the dairy operation is run and all the entities that feed into it ... how they all play a role," said Megan Bettencourt of Hughson, Calif., a senior at Fresno State University.

Dairies in Canada are government regulated, and producers practice supply management, Hudson said. Average herd size is 150 cows, and they are raised indoors due to the cold weather. All those things are very different from what she saw at White Clover.

Bettencourt, too, said California producers practice supply management and are penalized for over production. While she's used to seeing drylot dairies, cows there spend about four months indoors because of rain.

Jeff Blickenstaff of Nampa and a junior at University of Idaho said the Dairy Challenge offers students the experience of being a consultant, and they can compare their management to what they saw at the host dairy.

The team effort between students who have never met is another beneficial aspect of the experience, Bettencourt said. It replicates how things really work on a dairy, where owners, herd managers, veterinarians, nutritionists and others have to be on the same page from the minute they walk onto the dairy.

Because the Dairy Challenge is supported by allied industry, with many of those folks present for the event, it also offers career opportunities, the students said.

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, hosted by Cal Poly and University of California Fresno in Visalia, is set for April 8-10.

Top two teams

Brian Medeiros, California Polytechnic State University, senior
Jennifer Spencer, University of Idaho, junior
Stewart Russell, University of Idaho, junior
Alex DeJager, California State University Fresno, junior

Nicole Hurt, University of Alberta, senior
Carl Betts, University of Idaho, senior
Jennifer Trice, Washington State University, junior
Robert Thommen, California Polytechnic State University, junior
Brian Waymire, California Polytechnic State University, senior

North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge: www.dairychallenge.org