Dairy Breeds

Teacher Preparation

Learning Goal

Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to identify the five major dairy breeds and begin to understand their benefits to dairies.

Learning Standards

LS1.1 Develop and use models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have a common pattern of birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
WG.5 The student will analyze agricultural and commercial land use

Resources & Materials

National Agriculture in the Classroom
Oklahoma State - Breeds of Cattle
Brown Swiss Association
Images of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Jersey cows
Visuals in the center
Student tour guides

Lesson Delivery

Anticipatory Set

Show that we have two of the breeds here (through the viewing window into freestall barn)
Show students images of various dairy breeds.
- What do you notice about all these pictures?
  - What are some similarities/differences?
Today we will learn about the five main dairy breeds here in the United States.

Direct Instruction

1st Learning Goal: Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to identify the five major dairy breeds and begin to understand their benefits to dairies.

Content Outline
Breed Information (from National Ag in the Classroom and Oklahoma State- Breeds of Cattle)
Holstein All white with black spots, what people traditionally think of when you say “dairy cow” Holsteins may also come in white with red spots Largest breed, with cows weighing an average of 1500 lbs Most common breed in the US Makes the most milk of all the breeds (up to 10 gallons per day) One of the breeds we have here
Jersey Medium to dark brown with a dark nose and tail Small size, weighing between 800 and 1200 lbs High milk production Second most common breed in the US One of the breeds we have here Through the viewing window point out the size difference in the Holsteins and the Jerseys
Brown Swiss Can be grey, dark brown, tan or even almost white in color. Their hooves, nose and tail are usually black. (Brown Swiss Association) Often described as athletic and cows weigh around 1500 lbs Their milk is good for making cheeses because its high in lactose They do well in both hot and cold places
Ayrshire Red and white spotted, the red may be very dark or very light. Cows weigh around 1200 lbs Their milk is good for butter and cheeses They do very well in cold weather They have strong, healthy udders.
Guernsey Gold (yellowy-red) and white color Their milk is high in butter fat and high protein, leading it to be called Golden Milk. They do well in warm places and live long lives

Content Outline

Breed Information (from National Ag in the Classroom and Oklahoma State- Breeds of Cattle)

Holstein

All white with black spots, what people traditionally think of when you say “dairy cow”
Holsteins may also come in white with red spots
Largest breed, with cows weighing an average of 1500 lbs
Most common breed in the US
Makes the most milk of all the breeds (up to 10 gallons per day)
One of the breeds we have here

Jersey

Medium to dark brown with a dark nose and tail
Small size, weighing between 800 and 1200 lbs
High milk production
Second most common breed in the US
One of the breeds we have here
Through the viewing window point out the size difference in the Holsteins and the Jerseys

Brown Swiss

Can be grey, dark brown, tan or even almost white in color. Their hooves, nose and tail are usually black. (Brown Swiss Association)
Often described as athletic and cows weigh around 1500 lbs
Their milk is good for making cheeses because its high in lactose
They do well in both hot and cold places

Ayrshire

Red and white spotted, the red may be very dark or very light.
Cows weigh around 1200 lbs
Their milk is good for butter and cheeses
They do very well in cold weather
They have strong, healthy udders.

Guernsey

Gold (yellowy-red) and white color
Their milk is high in butter fat and high protein, leading it to be called Golden Milk.
They do well in warm places and live long lives

Learning Activity

Students should be provided with a coloring sheet with five blank outlines of dairy cattle with names below each outline so that they can color in the appropriate outline to match each breed image as the lesson progresses.

Assessment

Show students images of a few dairy breeds and ask them what each breed is named.

Closing Announcements/Reminders

Answer any questions they may have
Show them the robot and viewing windows one more time
Thank students for coming to the Ferguson Family Dairy