A new group, the Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium (SGPDC) will offer their first Advanced Large Herd Management Program, an opportunity for 25 to 30 students to receive unique educational experiences and employment opportunities. Hurry! Applications for the 2008 summer program are due on February 1, 2008!

Courses are taught in the middle of the third largest milk shed in the U.S., and credits are applicable to the student’s program at their home university. Course credits depend on the student’s university. Problem solving and state-of-the-art hands-on training in laboratory situations are integrated with industry field trips to complement interactive lectures and discussions.

The series of courses can be combined with a number of majors at the student’s home institution: Animal Science, Biological Sciences, Agricultural Development, Food Science, Veterinary Science, Agricultures Economics, Marketing, Biology and others. Students completing the program receive a Certificate in Dairy Management. Internet courses will also be developed to provide courses that might not be available on all campuses in addition to the summer training program.

Classroom instruction will take place at the Clovis Community College in Clovis, New Mexico. Within a 20-mile radius, there are 25 herds averaging over 2,200 milking cows. These herds represent all types of housing and milking facilities. Herds are extensively used to enhance the learning experience by demonstrating to students actual techniques and practices that were learned in the classroom. Internships and on-the-job training opportunities are provided for students. The internships will fit into the academic timetable for each participating university and will complement the summer’s academic courses. Internships are permitted after completing a summer session.

Courses are coordinated by faculty from the participating universities. The course for the first year will include Herd Financial and Management Evaluation, Dairy Cattle Nutrition, and Facility Management and Animal Well Being. Faculty are recognized national experts and include Drs. Mike Hutjens, Mark McGuire, Lance Baumgard, Dennis Armstrong, John Smith, Robert Hagevoort, Kas Ingawa and Danny Klinefelter.

Consortium members are Abilene Christian University, University of Arizona, New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, and USDA Agricultural Research Service. In addition industry support is being provided by trade organizations such as Dairy Producers of New Mexico, Texas Association of Dairymen, Dairy Max and Southwest Dairy Museum.