Department of Animal Science Courses are offered specific to Dairy Production and Management. The FARMS program offers students a unique opportunity. Miller Research Complex - Dairy Facility The CREAM program is a hands-on learning experience for students. Internship & Research opportunities enhance the scope of the dairy program. Dairy Production/Management Program
The Dairy option offers hands-on learning experiences. Students at the University of Vermont with an interest in dairy production and/or dairy management, have the option of exploring those fields through the comprehensive Dairy Production/Management option offered in the Department of Animal Science. The educational experience is enhanced by utilization of the Paul Miller Complex dairy facility located near the main campus, with opportunities to encounter other facilities through the courses of instruction. This option awards a Bachelor of Science degree after completion of four years of study. The Dairy Production/Management option concentrates on courses relating to the feeding, breeding, health and management of dairy cattle, and also financial and small business management. Dairy courses include Dairy Cattle Judging, Animal Nutrition, Metabolism, and Feeding, Applied Animal Health,, CREAM, Animal Genetics and Breeding, FARMS Junior & Senior Seminar, Dairy Herd Management, Advanced Ruminant Nutrition & Dairy Feeding, Advanced Dairy Management, Clinical Topics: Livestock Medicine. The Department s science based curriculum also includes additional courses such as Animals in Society/Animal Welfare, Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals, Physiology of Reproduction, and Lactation Physiology. Dairy internships may be developed throughout the four year course of study. Animal Science majors have the flexibility to take courses in other colleges of the University as well, to capitalize on the individual student s interests such as photography, small business entrepreneurship, marketing, journalism, computer science, and art to name just a few. Students may take the Dairy option and go on to Veterinary School or Graduate School. The CREAM program allows students to manage their own dairy herd. Community members enjoy the Cattle Judging show at the Miller Research Complex dairy facility. An important feature of this option is the Cooperative for Real Education in Agriculture Management program (CREAM), which provides a two-semester hands-on experience for students to oversee the complete operation of a 30 cow, registered Holstein, dairy herd business. (See information sheet). An additional option for students is the Farm and Agriculture Resource Management Stewards program (FARMS 2+2) conducted in cooperation with Vermont Technical College (VTC) in Randolph, Vermont, and Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, New York. Students begin this program at VTC and spend two years learning dairy farm or agribusiness management. They then finish the program at UVM learning more advanced material and practical application of the material to real business plans for farm management. Students also spend a semester living at Miner Institute for a total immersion into the management of a dairy farm (See information sheet). The Dairy Production/Management option offers students an outstanding educational experience in technical and applied areas of dairy production and management. For more information on this option please visit the UVM online catalogue at http://www.uvm.edu/catalogue/.
What is CREAM? CREAM stands for Cooperative for Real Education in Agriculture Management. It is a two semester course in experiential learning. The first semester starts in January, and the second semester ends the following December for a total of 8 credits. Learning is a student-directed, team approach where the team of students has final responsibility for making all management decisions. CREAMers learn dairy herd management skills in breeding, feeding, health care, and finance. They develop team building skills, leadership and communication skills by solving real-world problems. CREAMers are motivated by their concern for the welfare of the animals, their desire for the business to be successful, and to be a productive team member. As a result of this commitment, strong friendships develop between the CREAMers themselves and between the CREAMers and their cows. How does CREAM work? Selection and Transition: Prospective members apply in October with a written application, an interview, and visits to chores and meetings. Fifteen students are selected and a transition team helps to get them started in January. Team and Leadership Development: Officers and key positions are elected in January to facilitate the operation and management of the business. Team building and group dynamics are discussed. Operation of the Business: Chore schedules for each week are negotiated so that each CREAMer does 2 chores and 2 checks. Chores are 2 times per day at 5:00am and 3:00pm, and include milking, feeding, barn cleaning, heifer and calf care, health care, and heat detection. Barn checks are at 11:00am and 10:30pm. Management of the Business: Management decisions are made by the team at business meetings. Much of the groundwork and discussions leading up to decisions are done in committee meetings. Production, Breeding, Finance, and Projects committees meet for one hour each week. Members serve on 2 of the 4 committees each semester. Documentation of Learning: Students document their learning in weekly emails to the faculty advisor. They also write a business report at the end of each semester and present highlights to the CREAM Advisory Board for their critique at semester-end meetings. CREAM Advisory Board In 1990, a CREAM Advisory Board was formed to give CREAMers advisory resources from Vermont's Dairy Industry. Nine Key Vermont Dairy Industry Leaders are members of this board. Their advice has been valuable, as CREAM has risen to the top! In addition CREAM utilizes Faculty Advisors, Farm Advisors, and Student Herd Advisors. For more information about the CREAM program, visit their website at http://asci.uvm.edu/cream/, or contact Helen Maciejewski at Helen.Maciejewski@uvm.edu. I knew nothing about cows before joining CREAM Now I understand production agriculture, I appreciate the hard work that farmers put in, and I am familiar with segments of the Vermont Dairy Industry -Dr. Vicki McFadden, President of CREAM 90 CREAM Alumni in the Real World From 1988 through 2009, 354 Creamers have been a part of this great program. Alumni have developed a CREAM ALUMNI organization. Thirty CREAMers are veterinarians and 30 more are in vet school. Eighteen are dairy farmers and 18 others work in agri-business. Twenty-one are educators and researchers. Andrew Meyer served as an agricultural consultant in Washington D.C. Andrew King is head field man for the Holstein Association in the western U.S. "Tell me I'll forget, show me I might remember, but involve me and I'll learn!" - Ellen Wright, CREAM '95 in a summary of her CREAM experience
UVM/VTC FARMS 2+2 Program Program Overview - Offered in cooperation with the Vermont Technical College, the Farm and Agricultural Resource Management Stewards (FARMS 2 + 2) degree program enables students to make a seamless transition from dairy farm or agribusiness management at VTC to a second two years at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont. Advanced material relating to the courses taught at VTC is offered at UVM through one of two majors, Animal Science or Agriculture and Resource Entrepreneurship. Successfully completing one of these majors leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in either Animal Science (ASCI) or Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE). Also, students spend a semester at Miner Agricultural Research Institute, which provides a "total immersion" that focuses entirely on the real problems of managing a dairy farm. Students live at the Miner Institute in Chazy, New York for the spring semester of their junior year. Program Goals - During the four-year UVM/VTC FARMS 2 + 2 degree program it is expected that the following competencies will be gained: Understanding dairy business as systems Communication skills needed for coaching a management team Autonomous, lifelong learning Confidence in application of technical knowledge Admission Requirements An interest in and proven aptitude of the Vermont Dairy Industry A minimum SAT score of 1300 Graduate from high school college preparatory program in the top 25% of your high school class Scholarships - Vermont Legislature, through the Vt. Department of Agriculture, with generous industry support, provides full tuition scholarships for Vermont residents who begin the program at VTC and maintain at least a B grade average each year of their college career. The amount of the scholarship is the current year's full tuition cost at either VTC or UVM. In addition to the Vermont Department of Agriculture's scholarship program, FARMS students may be eligible for a number of other scholarships. Students seeking scholarship advice should consult with their UVM/VTC Coordinator. Trips - Students have the opportunity to attend national expositions and conferences as well as tour farms throughout the United States. An example of one such opportunity is the Northeast Dairy Challenge which is held at a different University each year. The students work in teams of about five and assess all aspects of three working dairy farms in the area. After 2 days of visits, each team presents their recommendations for improvements to a panel of judges and the participating farmers. The teams are assessed based on their findings compared to the findings of the judges. Both the students and farmers greatly benefit from the experience. Internship Opportunities Excellent Internship opportunities are offered through the FARMS program. For more opportunities, check the Animal Science Department s internship website at: http://asci.uvm.edu/intern/ On-Farms Ranging from one week to six month internships on farms throughout the world Industry Regional feed and agricultural supply summer internships Finance All FARMS students complete a one week summer internship with Farm Credit Government/USDA State Agriculture Agency or USDA field internships are available Contact Information For more information about the UVM/VTC FARMS 2+2 Program visit their website at http://asci.uvm.edu/farms/ or contact the program coordinator: UVM/VTC Coordinator Department of Animal Science Terrill Building 570 Main Street Burlington, VT 05405-0148
DAIRY PRODUCTION/ MANAGEMENT OPTION - This option is designed for the individual whose career goals are associated with the efficient production of milk. Listed below are courses that one may select for the 40 hours of electives available to the student. (These elective credits are in addition to the required ASCI courses and CALS requirements listed on the first page). Credits Semester taken ASCI 118 Animal Health 4 ASCI 134-135 CREAM (Co-operative for Real Education in Agri. Mgmt) 8 ASCI 143 Forage Crops Management 3 ASCI 155 FARMS Junior Planning Seminar 2 ASCI 156 FARMS Senior Planning Seminar 2 ASCI 195-196 Field Experience.5-15 ASCI 211 Summer Experience in Farm Mgmt 4 ASCI 215 Physiology of Reproduction 4 ASCI 220 Lactation Physiology 3 ASCI 230 Agriculture and Food Policy 3 ASCI 233 Dairy Cattle Breeding 2 ASCI 234 Advanced Dairy Management 15 ASCI 252 FARMS Senior Project.5-15 ASCI 264 Clinical Topics in Livestock Medicine 4 CDAE 61 Prin Community Develpmt Ec 3 CDAE 166 Intro Entrepreneurship 3 CDAE 167 Fin Mgmt: Community Entrepreneurship 3 CDAE 237 Economics of Sustainability 3 CDAE 273 Project Development & Planning 3 PSS 152 Agroecology 3 PSS 161 Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 Revised 08/10