Lincoln University: Dairy farming, the environment and sustainability
This interactive houses Lincoln University’s year 11 dairy resources. Click on the labels for lesson plans and student resources. The resources include a range of learning experiences to increase engagement, build understanding and practise the science capabilities.
The article Dairying, science and sustainability – a context for learning provides an overview of the programme, curriculum and pedagogical information.
Transcript
Down on the farm – introduction
This set of activities is an introduction to dairy farming. It provides specific farm terminology and items that are found in most New Zealand dairy farms.
Students use text, cutouts and a farm plan to construct a farm collage. They use the collage to follow cows as they journey to and from the dairy shed.
The teacher notes provide background additional information on herringbone and rotary dairy sheds.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Image acknowledgement: rafaelbenari/123RF Ltd
Design your own farm
Students use SIM Farm and have a go with designing and managing their own farm. Teachers can assign different farm conditions so that students can compare and reflect on their farming experiences with their friends.
The lesson plan includes a video link explaining how to access the free SIM game and how to play. It also has questions for students to use when sharing their design and management experiences.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Image acknowledgement: 1993 MAXIS and Eric Albers
All about cows
Cows are social animals, and they function within a herd structure. Modern technologies enable scientists to collect data about cow behaviour. Understanding behaviour and how cows spend their day helps farm managers ensure the herd’s welfare.
The lesson plan uses the video Rosie’s World Family Tree Cowcam (5:07) to introduce milking breeds in Aotearoa. The video The Private Life of Cows (59:08) looks more closely at cow behaviour.
Students can practise the science capability ‘Interpret representations’ with diagrams that display the daily activity of individual cows. Other resource sheets explore some factors that affect cow wellbeing.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
How cows spend their day – pdf
How cows spend their day – ppt
Image acknowledgement: Paige Fisher, Lincoln University
Careers in the primary industries
Farms cover about half of the country’s land. Primary production is a key industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, and it employs a significant number of people either directly on farm or indirectly as vets, contractors, researchers and more.
Students can discover some of the careers that support the dairy industry and primary sector.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Careers in the dairy industry and primary sector – lesson plan – pdf
Spot the career – pdf
Agriculture Careers – pdf
Food Science Careers – pdf
Image acknowledgement: Ross Gray
Nitrogen and dairy farming
Understanding the nitrogen cycle is an important part of dairy farming. Balance is the key. Too little nitrogen and pasture plants do not thrive, but too much nitrogen can be harmful to the environment.
Cows obtain nitrogen as they graze pasture plants and use it for their life processes and in milk production. When they consume more than they need, the excess is excreted as urine and dung. Pasture plants are not able to utilise all of the nitrogen, and it can be lost to leaching.
Students use auditory and visual skills to construct pictures and diagrams that show the potential pathway of nitrogen from food source to effluent to leaching.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Picture dictation of the nitrogen cycle – student handout – pdf
Picture dictation of the nitrogen cycle – teacher’s version – pdf
Image acknowledgement: Racheal Bryant
Feed choices for dairy cows
A dairy cow has a lot of demands placed on her in regards to producing large quantities of milk solids and growing calves. It’s important to provide the right feeds to ensure that she stays in good condition all year long. This is an animal welfare issue. Good condition also ensures good milk supply over the milking season, and it increases the probability of her getting into calf.
The type of feed and when it is eaten has consequences for the environment, so careful farm management is needed to ensure animal and environmental wellbeing.
The resources for this topic explore seasonal surpluses and deficits in pasture throughout the year and introduce some of the options farmers have to feed cows. Students evaluate these options and graph pasture growth and cow needs.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Feed cards – part 1 – pdf
Feed cards – part 2 – pdf
Evaluating feed types: before and after grazing part 1 – student handout – pdf
Evaluating feed types: before and after grazing part 2 – student handout – pdf
Blank graph template – pdf
Image acknowledgement: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Environmental factors
Dairy is big business in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2019, New Zealand was the main exporter of milk and milk products worldwide!
Environmental factors such as soils, topography and weather influence where farms are located and how they are managed. Each region comes with its own benefits and challenges.
Students are challenged to step into the role of farm consultants and consider the environmental factors associated with dairy farming in a particular region within New Zealand.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Recommendation table – pdf
Image acknowledgement: cmfotoworks/123RF Ltd
Social factors
Kiwis have one of the highest rates of domestic milk consumption in the world. Milk has traditionally been consumed in European cultures and was brought to New Zealand as part of the process of colonisation. Milk consumption has boomed around the world, with demand growing in Asian countries.
Consumers make choices and drive demands for milk products. Consumer decisions are based on a number of factors including taste, nutrition and sustainability.
Students explore milk consumption through history. They consider social factors including consumer decisions, product analysis and sustainability. Students can also experience consumer and sensory science via product taste tests.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Social factors – pdf
Social factors – ppt
Consumer decisions – pdf
Image acknowledgement: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Economic factors
There are lots of economic factors that work for and against Aotearoa New Zealand’s dairy production.
Fonterra is the country’s largest dairy producer and a significant exporter. The company produces advertisements that target specific consumer groups in a variety of countries. Students can view the advertisements and identify some of the marketing characteristics Fonterra uses to make its products stand out in the global market.
The following resources are courtesy of Lincoln University:
Image acknowledgement: eastfenceimage/123RF Ltd
Acknowledgement
This resource and the resources in the interactive planner were written by Lauren Roberts, Lincoln University. Academics and farm staff from Lincoln University Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences provided information, expertise and advice in the construction of this unit. Industry organisations also assisted with providing facts and figures.
Lincoln University provides a range of outreach and teaching materials for senior secondary school students. Visit their outreach page for information on workshops and additional resources.
