The High Performance Herd Certificate is a highly interactive learning experience for herdspersons on dairy farms. It is designed to improve your animal and herd management skills in the key areas of animal care, nutrition, and reproduction management.
The certificate consists of three modules. Each module features a 1.5-day in-class/on-farm session with practical activities and discussions. In-class sessions are supported by pre-session and post-session activities to help you succeed in the modules and ensure you leave with the confidence and skills to adopt best practices and improve herd management and productivity on your farm.
Pre-sessions include introductory activities and resources and will take place online in Brightspace prior to the in-class/on-farm sessions. You will have approximately 30 days to complete and review the introductory activities and resources before attending the in-person/on-farm session.
Post-sessions include additional activities and follow-up and will take place online in Brightspace after the in-class/on-farm session. You will have approximately 2 months to complete the follow-up activities, which will include making changes on the home farm and reporting on your success.
Both the pre- and post-session for each module must be completed to receive the certificate.
Certificate Breakdown
Module 1 - Reproductive Performance: Analyzing What You Do and Don’t Do, Truro, NS. Instructor Dr. Frank Schenkels
The pre-session will take place online starting November 30, 2020, and will run until January 14, 2021. Offsite refers to the in-class/on-farm that will take place on January 15th (6:00-9:00 pm) and January 16 (9:00-5:00) at a location in Truro, NS at a farm TBA. The post-session will take place online starting January 17 and will run until March 17, 2021.
Module 2 - Nutrition and Feeding: Making Every Bite Count, Moncton, NB. Instructor Jeff Walker
The pre-session will take place online starting March 5, 2021, and will run until April 9, 2021. Offsite refers to the in-class/on-farm that will take place on April 9 (6:00-9:00 pm) and April 10th (9:00-4:00) at a location in Moncton, NB at a farm TBA. The post-session will take place online starting April 11th and will run until June 28, 2021.
Module 3 - Dairy Cow Care: Making It Your Number One Priority, Charlottetown, PEI. Instructor Dr. Shawn McKenna
The pre-session will take place online starting October 14, 2021, and will run November 12th, 2021. Offsite refers to the in-class/on-farm that will take place on November 12th (6:00-9:00 pm) and November 13th (9:00-4:00) at a location in Charlottetown, PEI at a farm TBA. The post-session will take place online starting November 14 and will run until January 29, 2022.
Who Should Attend
Anyone whose primary responsibility and interest is the care of the dairy herd is encouraged to enroll - herdspersons, new entrants and managers looking to improve skills.
Fees
Sponsorship has been provided for this certificate. Individual fees for the Reproduction Performance and Dairy Cow Care modules are $450 + HST each and $750 for the Nutrition and Feeding module. OR if you register in advance for the full certificate bundle you pay $1650 + HST. Please contact extended.learning@dal.ca for more information.
Funding Opportunities
Eligible participants may qualify for funding through the Canada Job Grant Program. Please contact your provincial partner for more information.
Nova Scotia: Workplace Innovation Productivity Skills Initiative (WIPSI)
New Brunswick: Canada New Brunswick Job Grant
Prince Edward Island: Business Development Program
Newfoundland: Canada NL Job Grant
Funding may also be available through your provincial Departments of Agriculture. To inquire contact your local office.