CAEP participants with dairy placements will be involved with most aspects of operation-milking, feeding, cleaning, record keeping, harvesting forage and grain, treatment of sick animals, and waste disposal/sanitation. Some trainees may be involved with the hosts’ breeding and nutrition program. Dairy set-ups have either a tie-stall/stanchion barn or a free stall and parlor set-up.
Some of the skills learned may include:
- Care and feeding of dairy cattle
- Ration balancing
- Pasture management
- Herd health management
- Herd reproductive management
- Marketing of crops, livestock and livestock products
- Operation of farm machinery and on-road vehicles
- Seed, fertilizer, and crop protection decisions
- Harvesting and drying crops
- Financial management including computer income and expense records, depreciation and capital purchases and sales
- Exposure to the American way of life and business
*Actual skills learned will vary by host and previous experience