Dairy farms employ individuals to tend to their livestock and oversee the daily workings of the farm. These personnel are expected to possess the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively handle the multifaceted responsibilities associated with dairy farming. Nevertheless, a substantial portion of these workforce members may find themselves lacking in proper training or practical experience within this specific field.

To address this crucial need, the UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy Program has built the “Dairy Workers Training Modules.” These modules were specifically tailored to equip dairy workers with the essential skills for optimizing their performance on the farm. Presently, two modules are accessible: “Milking Skills” and “Reproductive Skills,” both of which aim to enhance and refine the capabilities of dairy workers.

The Dairy Workers Training Modules are free to access and available online on-demand. Workers can access the modules when most convenient for them and select individual sections in any order. Being available on-demand makes the Dairy Workers Training Modules a valuable onboarding tool for employees new to your farm. The modules contain video recordings, interactive knowledge checks, and additional factsheets and videos related to each topic.

In the Milking Skills course, modules include Milking Preparation and Mastitis Prevention. In the Reproductive Skill course, participants can select from modules on Anatomy and Physiology, Managing Bulls, Cow Synchronization, Heifer Synchronization, Heifer Reproductive Management, Heat Stress, Heat Detection and Heat Detection Aids, Pregnancy Detection, and Synchronization Compliance. Access current worker modules at: https://go.wisc.edu/dwt and be sure to watch for future modules to be shared.