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4-H Dairy Cattle Project

Program Icon.

Program Contact

Amy Alder, 4-H Program Manager
Phone Number509-962-7565 Email Addressamy.alder@wsu.edu

Dairy projects teach youth to explore all aspects of dairy showing including calf selection, animal care, showing skills, and judging skills. Youth also learn about record keeping, keeping animals healthy, pregnancy detection and calf delivery, and dairy industry career opportunities.

Please note there are age restrictions on this project area:

Youth must be 8 by October 1st of the current 4-H year to be eligible for Enrollment in large animal projects, including Beef, Dairy, Market Goat, Horse, Sheep, Alpaca/Llama, and Swine

    Objectives

    Youth will:

    • Learn basic principles of animal science through the owning, raising, and care of one or more animals
    • Select a calf based on breed characteristics and feed, winter, house, and care for the dairy cow, as well as breeding the animal
    • Obtain quality milk using proper sanitation and milking practices
    • Fit, groom, and show a producing cow

    4-H Dairy Curriculum

    Level 1:  Cowabunga!

    Level 2:  Mooving Ahead

    Level 3:  Rising to the Top

    Dairy Cattle Helper’s Guide

    Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides

    For youth members

    C1053E – Producer Affidavit & Dairy Heifer Health Record

    C1113E – Supplemental Animal Affidavit & Health Record

    PNW614 – Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest

    4-H104E – How to Make a Rope Halter

    4H1109E – Dairy Cattle Judging – Giving Reasons

    C0229 – Dairy Cow Anatomy Chart