Dept. of Animal Production					Dairy Cattle Production (602215) (3 hrs)
Faculty of Agriculture						Lecturer: Prof. Mufeed Alnimer 
The University of Jordan					E-mail:- amufeed@ju.edu.jo
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to establish an understanding of the Fundamental principle of economics, genetics, nutrition, physiology, veterinary medicine and knowledge of husbandry practices. Stress is concentrated upon detailed practices about how to breed, feed and manage dairy cows in order to enhance milk production.
Textbook:
“Dairy Cattle: Principles, Practices, Problems, Profits, 1984” Third Edition, By bath, D.L., F.N. Dickinson, H.A. Tucker, and R.D. Applman, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, USA.
Week	Subject	Reading Assignments	
1	Introduction		
2	Dairy cattle and dairyman 
Establishment of dairy enterprise 
Nutritional value of milk	Ch 1, p 5
	
3	Milk marketing and pricing
Records and record keeping
Animal identification	Ch 2, p 29
Ch 3, p 57
Appendix p 491	
4	Breeding
Genetic basis for improvement
Qualitative and quantitative traits 
Breeding value	
Ch 4, p 79	
5	Estimating the breeding value
Evaluating the genotype of cows
Estimating the breeding value of bulls	Ch 5, p 94	
6	Methods of genetic improvement
Gene frequency 
Selection
Migration
Systems of mating
Breeding programs	Ch 6, p 115
Ch 7, p 133	
7	First Exam		
7,8	Nutrition and feeding practices
Anatomy and physiology of digestion
Nutrient requirements
Feeding lactating cows
Feeding non-lactating animals	Ch 8, p 153
Ch 9, p 169
Ch 10, p 189	
9	Reproduction
General endocrinology
The nervous and endocrine systems
Regulation of hormone secretion
Use of hormones in dairy cattle	
Ch 14, 267	
10,11	Anatomy and physiology of reproductive systems puberty
Estrous cycle and ovulation
Artificial insemination
Fertilization
Pregnancy
Parturition	Ch 16, p 309	
12	Second Exam		
12,13	Management problems in reproduction
Measures of reproductive efficiency
Physiological factors affecting fertility
Pathological causes of infertility
Nutritional factors associated with infertility
Environmental factors affecting reproduction	Ch 16, p 309	
14	Anatomy and physiology of the mammary gland
External and internal features
Growth and development
Hormonal control of lactation
Artificial induction of lactation	Ch 17, p 326	
15	Biosynthesis of milk
Cytology of the secretory cell
Biosynthesis of milk protein
Carbohydrate metabolism
Milk fat synthesis
Factors affecting composition and yield of milk	Ch 18, p 347	
16	Herd management
Care of cow and calf at calving
Calf raising
Herd health
Housing and equipment	Ch 20, p 387	
	Final Exam		
Course Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to:
*	Understand the basic competences which the dairyman should have to succeed in dairy farming.
*	Gain the skill about keeping and evaluating records and perform animal identification.
*	Understand the basic principles of breeding and systems of genetic improvement in dairy cattle.
*	Be able to calculate the standard lactation record, estimate the breeding value and calculate the selection index for dairy cows.
*	Understand the nutrient requirements and gain skill about the feeding practices for dairy cows.
*	Understand the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system and comprehend the various factors which affect fertility in order to improve reproductive performance of dairy cows.
*	Understand the anatomy and physiology of the mammary gland and the factors which affect lactation in order to increase milk yield of dairy cows.
*	Gain skill about the appropriate practices of management of the dairy herds.
Class participation:
	Students are expected to attend all classes on time. Participate in class discussions and engage in asking and answering questions. Be prepared for quizzes and exams and submit reports about identified topics in dairy cattle production.
Exams and grades:
	First Exam			20% 		 
	Second Exam			20% 		
	Quizzes and reports		10%
	Final Exam			50%
						______
				Total		100%

References:
1-	Ensminger M E. 1993. Dairy Cattle Science. Third Edition. Interstate Publisher Inc. USA.
2-	Robinson P.K. 1986. Modern Dairy Technology. Elsevier Applied Science Pub. London
3-	Castle M.E, and Watkins P. 1979. Modern Milk Production. Its Principles and Applications for Students and Farmers. Faber and Faber. London-Boston. 
4-	Russell K 1977. The Principles of Dairy Farming. Seventh Edition. Farming Press LID. Wherfedale Road, Ipswich.