Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Moving Beyond Basics: Dairy Nutrition and Diet Formulation

Moving Beyond Basics: Dairy Nutrition and Diet Formulation

This course is part of Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success Specialization

Instructors: Phil Cardoso, DVM, MS, PhD

1,794 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Analyze feeding strategies to optimize dairy cow, calf, and heifer health and productivity.
Evaluate key nutritional markers and formulate balanced diets for dairy cattle.
Apply colostrum management and nutrient interactions to enhance cow and calf health.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of dairy cattle nutrition, focusing on feeding strategies for cows, calves, and heifers. Students will learn to formulate diets, identify key nutritional markers, and understand the impact of dietary choices on health and reproduction. The course covers colostrum management, liquid feeding strategies, and nutrient interactions to optimize dairy cow productivity. Expert instructors guide learners through practical applications, ensuring a thorough understanding of feeding practices during critical periods like the transition phase.

This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs, including the graduate certificate, "Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success" that can be stacked toward an advanced degree in the College of ACES. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online at acesonline.illinois.edu.

In the course orientation, you will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Then dive into the second part of this module to explore the essential nutrients required in dairy rations. You will learn how to effectively feed these nutrients to dairy cows, ensuring their health and productivity. By the end of this week, you will be able to understand and apply the concepts of nutrient feeding in dairy cow management.

What's included

20 videos5 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

20 videosTotal 127 minutes

Course Overview2 minutes
Instructor Introduction - Phil Cardoso1 minute
Instructor Introduction - James K Drackley1 minute
Module 1 | Overview1 minute
Energy16 minutes
Carbohydrates8 minutes
Lipids4 minutes
Protein & Amino Acids3 minutes
Macrominerals9 minutes
Macrominerals | Strong Ions8 minutes
Microminerals11 minutes
Vitamins6 minutes
Water6 minutes
Requirements11 minutes
Additives6 minutes
Dry Matter5 minutes
Dry Matter Intake 9 minutes
Physical Appearance 4 minutes
Key Changes from NRC 2001 to NASEM 202114 minutes
Module 1 | Conclusion2 minutes

5 readingsTotal 26 minutes

Syllabus5 minutes
Learn More About Flexible Pathways3 minutes
Updating Your Profile3 minutes
Are your cows drinking enough water?10 minutes
Defining physically effective fiber (peNDF) in your cow’s diet5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 45 minutes

Orientation Quiz15 minutes
Module 1 | Knowledge Check30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 5 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates5 minutes

In this module, you will explore the nutritional needs of youngstock, focusing on the essential concepts of feeding calves and heifers. You will learn how to apply these principles to enhance their growth and overall performance.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment

11 videosTotal 62 minutes

Module 2 | Overview2 minutes
Why Colostrum is Critical | Refractometer6 minutes
Quickly, Quantity, Quality, and Cleanliness5 minutes
Whole Milk | Calf Drinking from Bottle6 minutes
Milk Replacers | Mixing Milk Replacer6 minutes
Calf starter and Rumen Development6 minutes
Limited use of Forage3 minutes
Heifer Growth Principles6 minutes
Heifer Grouping and Rations 6 minutes
Calf Nutrition: Past and Future13 minutes
Module 2 | Conclusion3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Feeding for Calf Growth, Even in the Winter10 minutes
Economic Comparison of Conventional vs. Intensive Heifer Rearing10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 2 | Knowledge Check30 minutes

In this module, you will explore the critical phase known as the transition period in dairy farming. You will gain insights into the nutritional needs of cows during this time, understand the challenges they face, and learn effective feeding strategies to ensure their health and productivity.

What's included

18 videos4 readings1 assignment

18 videosTotal 108 minutes

Module 3 | Overview3 minutes
DMI | Maximize while Controlling Nutrients and Energy Intake7 minutes
Energy Requirements3 minutes
Protein and Amino Acids 9 minutes
Starch7 minutes
Fiber7 minutes
Minerals8 minutes
Sorting 4 minutes
Total Mix Rations1 minute
Fresh Pens and Body Condition Scores3 minutes
Additives4 minutes
Impact of the Transition Period on Cow Health9 minutes
Impact of the Transition Period on Reproduction6 minutes
Protein Mobilization7 minutes
Metabolic Disorders and Fertility12 minutes
Nutrition strategies During the Transition Period6 minutes
Global Solutions for the Transition Period12 minutes
Module 3 | Conclusion2 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Ten steps for a successful transition period: Part 110 minutes
Biology of Dairy Cows During the Transition Period10 minutes
Ten steps for a successful transition period: Part 210 minutes
Learners Guide Case study: Should we blame the nutritionist? 10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 3 | Knowledge Check30 minutes

In this module, you will consolidate all the knowledge gained throughout the course to formulate a comprehensive diet. You will learn to identify key markers essential for creating a balanced and complete diet for dairy cattle. At the conclusion of this module, you will be ready to complete the final assessment for the course and earn your Coursera certificate!

What's included

25 videos8 readings2 assignments

25 videosTotal 129 minutes

Module 4 | Overview1 minute
The 4 Rations in the Farm4 minutes
Models5 minutes
Barn Description5 minutes
Cow Description4 minutes
Feed Inputs2 minutes
Feed Mix2 minutes
Feed Delivery | Mixers3 minutes
Keep the Goal in Mind | Least Cost Optimization4 minutes
Predicted Dry Matter Intake 8 minutes
Predicted Milk Output5 minutes
Grouping Strategies8 minutes
Group Prepartum 7 minutes
Dairy Eefficiency Calculator5 minutes
Printing the Diet Report 3 minutes
Introduction to Dairy Formulation Software AMTS9 minutes
Walking the Cows6 minutes
Manure Evaluation5 minutes
Body Condition Score and Manure - Field Evalation2 minutes
Case study | Bad vs Good Forage in a Lactation Cow Diet4 minutes
Case study | High vs Low K in a Dry Cow Diet 4 minutes
Opportunities & Mistakes in Formulating Dairy Diets12 minutes
Addressing Feeding Variations17 minutes
Module 4 | Conclusion2 minutes
Course Summary2 minutes

8 readingsTotal 31 minutes

Dairy Cow Comfort | Free-Stall Dimensions5 minutes
Wheat Straw in Dry Cow Diets | A Dairy Tech Tour Experience5 minutes
Learners Guide | Bad vs Good Forage in a Lactation Cow Diet3 minutes
Learners Guide | High vs Low K in a Dry Cow Diet 3 minutes
Lessons Learned from the 2023 Illinois Dairy Technology Tour5 minutes
Congratulations!2 minutes
Stack Your Course Certificate toward Graduate Coursework3 minutes
Getting Your Course Certificate5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 110 minutes

Module 4 | Knowledge Check20 minutes
Final Assessment90 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Phil Cardoso, DVM, MS, PhD

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 Courses2,613 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Explore more from Animal Health

Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Fundamentals of Dairy Nutrition: Forages and Feed
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dairy Nutrition & Health: Analyzing Cow Wellness
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success
Specialization
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Discovering Dairy: What's in Your Milk?
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Unlock access to 10,000+ courses with a subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 4,700 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

Yes! Although completion of the Coursera course alone is not credit-bearing, it is a required component of a graduate-level Canvas course that can be "stacked" toward advanced credentials such as an academic (transcriptable) graduate certificate or a degree. If you decide to pursue further education, the credits you earn from this course can be applied toward a formal academic program, provided that you meet all the requirements of admission to the certificate or degree.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.