Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

Artificial Insemination and Cups On Cups Off Courses

The NCDEA conducts these two programs in partnership with industry organisations. The AI course is run with the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia Inc. and the COCO course with Countdown Downunder.

Artificial Insemination

Breeding the next generation of cattle using performance recorded, progeny‐tested bulls is one of the quickest ways to improve productivity on any cattle farm—beef or dairy.

Artificial Insemination is recognised as the most effective technique for delivering genetic improvement to Australian farmers. The NCDEA runs AI courses in conjunction with the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia Inc. (NHIA).

The AI course comprises 1 day of Theory (Part A) followed a week later by 2 days of intense, hands-on, practical training on live cows (Part B). The Part A section of the course is designed to give learners a thorough grounding into the technical and theoretical aspects of AI covering:

Bovine anatomy and reproductive physiology
Liquid Nitrogen and Semen handling
AI Technique
Common reproductive diseases
Heat detection and record keeping
Genetic theory and bull selection

The Part B practical training takes place at Salesian College, Sunbury, Victoria in facilities which are custom designed for the purpose.

Cups On Cups Off

Controlling mastitis and achieving high quality milk significantly affects the profitability of all dairy farms. In any dairy, the milking process can significantly affect the spread of mastitis infections and the risk of clinical cases of mastitis.

The Countdown Downunder "Cups On Cups Off" training program covers the whole milking process with special emphasis on mastitis prevention and control. Participants will gain a certificate of completion for the course and will also achieve the Milk Livestock (RTE2112A) unit.

The course has been designed for all people who milk cows, whether they be owner/operators, family members, employed staff, sharefarmers, relief milkers, or herd owners/managers - because the need for best practice is the same.
The course runs over one and a half days (approx 7.5 hours total), including a practical training session, ensuring a comprehensive program designed to achieve best practice in milk harvesting and the detection and treatment of clinical cases of mastitis.

Dairy farms can use this course to build skills in milk harvesting and mastitis control, and therefore make a substantial contribution to the farm's mastitis control program.

The real cost of mastitis
How and why infections occur
Reducing the risk of infection
Practical mastitis control
Best practice in milk harvesting
The importance of teat disinfection
How to detect and deal with clinical cases of mastitis

Further information from 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 0 62332).

Page updated on May 25, 2009 by Webmaster SK
Authorised by: T Marsden

© 2010 NCDEA - an initiative of Dairy Australia & Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
RTO Number 3094 | ABN 33 549 081 413 | Phone 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 0 62332)