Key Dairy Activities:

1. I milked a cow- VEISHEA spring open house
2. Awards Banquet
3. Weekly sale of ice cream home made by club members

Student Statistics:

Dairy Science major: Yes
Dairy Option: No
# Dairy Science Students: 72
# Animal Science/Dairy:0
# Students intending to pursue a dairy career: 90
Percent going to vet school: 20 %
Percent in ag research: 25%
Percent of dairy grads entering the industry: 75%
Percent going back to home farm: 35%
Average salary: $38,000

Dairy Herd Information:

# cows: 450
Breed(s): Holstein, Jersey,Brown Swiss, Ayshire, Guernsey, Shorthorn
Student labor: Yes
Used for research: Yes

Course Work:

Internship required for graduation: No
Assistance finding jobs or agriculture internships: Yes
Opportunities to work on dairy farms while attending school: Yes
Courses: ISU offers a full range of domestic species courses (from cats to cows), plus an array of bachelors programs, to include agricultural business, agricultural biochemistry, agricultural eduction, agronomy, animal ecology, entomology, food science and human nutrition, genetics, horticulture and others.

Travel Opportunities:

Dairy and Animal Science students tour/work on farms and agricultural businesses through such activities as first term Learning Team activities for all new freshman/transfer students, internship programs, Block and Bridle and Dairy Science club trips, Dairy/Livestock/Meats judging teams, Dairy Challenge Team, experiential courses at the sophomore and junior level. Annual club industry trip liked with Midwest ADSA Student Affiliate; National ADSA meetings; several study abroad tours, including dairy focused trips in 2010 to England/Scotland and New Zealand. Dairy Science majors are involved in departmental/college sponsored international agriculture travel courses (up to 10 offered per year), ISU formal international university exchange program, and international internships.

Additional Information:

Dairy Science Club is involved in events at Iowa State Fair, World Dairy Expo, and June Dairy Month tours. Iowa State University Dairy Science students benefit from new state-of-the-art facilities to augment their education. The dairy teaching and research farm completed in 2007 is within two miles of central campus. The farm hosts classes and laboratories and has an on-site veterinary hospital. All agriculture students may enroll in courses at the farm, as well as have the opportunity of working in the production herd or as a part of a research project or independent study with a faculty member. Additionally, the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine hospital completed an approximately $50million addition and remodel to include all new large animal facilities. Dairy Science students can work with bovine practitioners in these new facilities during their pre-veterinary studies.

Some students participate in the Iowa State University Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. Students are currently (Fall 2011) working on a tool for dairy farmers to help increase efficiency in feeding bottle calves. Learn more about the program at http://www.entrepreneurship.ag.iastate.edu/. Take a short survey to help them with their project at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22DCMP95N4E.

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