Dairy Herd Management

Build your herdsperson and management skills while exploring technology’s growing role in dairy farming today.

Why Consider Dairy Herd Management?

  • You're interested in a career in the dairy industry where your primary focus is caring for livestock.
  • Building the skills needed to become a valued dairy farm professional interests you.
  • You want a career where you can spend much of your time working outdoors.
  • Herd management plays a vital role in maintaining healthy, productive dairy farm operations.

Why Learn at Թ?

  • This program is offered through our flexible competency-based education (CBE) format, allowing you to accelerate your learning while receiving personalized coaching and support.
  • With frequent start dates, begin when it's convenient for you.
  • Gain valuable hands-on experience through two internships with local dairy farms.
  • Join our Professional Agricultural Students organization to participate in competitions, leadership opportunities, and industry activities.
  • Because of our low student-to-faculty ratio, you'll get to know your instructors and fellow students.

What It Takes

  • Passion for farming and the agricultural lifestyle
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Strong observation skills
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to perform physically demanding tasks
  • Interest in operating agricultural equipment and technology
Career Area
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Type
Technical Diploma
Program Number
31-091-1
Availability
CBE
  • 2 Terms
  • 30 Credits
  • Financial Aid Eligible
  • Frequent start dates

Career Outlook

Dairy Herd Management

Median Income: $30,676.00*

Potential Job Titles

(Click a title for job description)

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of agricultural, forestry, aquacultural, and related workers. Excludes “First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers" (37-1012).

Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree. Excludes “Nonfarm Animal Caretakers" (39-2021) who may occasionally breed animals as part of their other caretaking duties. Excludes “Animal Scientists" (19-1011) whose primary function is research.

Attend to live farm, ranch, or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses and other equines, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. Attend to animals produced for animal products, such as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. Duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, castrating, branding, de-beaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. May maintain records on animals; examine animals to detect diseases and injuries; assist in birth deliveries; and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. May clean and maintain animal housing areas. Includes workers who shear wool from sheep and collect eggs in hatcheries.

Work with agricultural scientists to support plant, fiber, and animal research by collecting samples, maintaining equipment, recording data, and assisting with experiments to improve crop and livestock production.

Disclosure:

*Lightcast/EMSI data is a hybrid dataset derived from official government sources such as the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. This salary data is from the Թ District.

Admission and First Semester Enrollment Steps

  • Submit online application
  • Complete the online Student Success Questionnaire 
  • Complete Get Started at Թ appointment
    • Application Check-in
    • College Orientation Overview
    • 1st Time Program Registration

Submit high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores (optional, highly recommended). Official transcripts will be needed for transferring college credit(s) and for financial aid purposes.

Program Cost

  • Tuition Cost: $5,461.00
  • Book Cost: $127.00
  • Supply Cost: $0.00
  • Program Total: $5,588.00

Some of Թ’s programs may reach program capacity due to high demand. When this occurs, the College will follow the Admissions Procedure to establish and maintain a waitlist to prioritize enrollment. In addition, some programs may offer a petition process outlined in their specific program handbook.

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION is a learning model offering far more flexibility than traditional models. Fitting college around your work and personal commitments is possible because CBE allows you to:

  • Learn When You Want To
  • Progress at Your Own Pace
  • Receive Personalized Coaching; Support  

Learn More About CBE

Faculty Bios

Instructor Bios Globe

Megan Kulow, PhD

I have a passion for all things agriculture. Being an educator is a privilege. I am excited students choose our Ag programs so we can set them up for success! Թ is surrounded by a large supportive community of farmers eager to have students tour their farms and get hands-on experience.

Learn More About This Instructor