Educational Scenario: Organic Dairy Farm

Educational Scenario: Organic Dairy Farm

Educational Scenario: Organic Dairy Farm
Scenario description
Contributor:
Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS)
Contact person and e-mail: Ragnar Leming [email protected]
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This scenario describes a one day visit to organic dairy farm that deals with production,
processing and marketing (the whole food chain) of organic milk and milk products. The
aim of the visit is to get detailed overview of the farm. Students are responsible to ask
questions, list the main problems and make a presentation. The scenario could be
implemented as one part of the course or as a main activity in a short, intensive course.
TOPIC
Organic dairy cattle husbandry
PURPOSE AND LEARNING GOALS
Learning goals
The goal is to get a good understanding and awareness on organic dairy cattle
husbandry, its concepts, principles, standards and practices. Experiential learning will be
encouraged by visiting and collecting production data from organically managed dairy
farm.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES
–
Make introduction lectures to the topic of organic farming principles, standards
and organic animal production to make sure that all the students have basic knowledge
of organic farming,
–
Ask the students (in groups) to prepare a detailed list of questions to be asked
during the farm visit.
–
Forming the groups:
The main aim of the group work is to get a detailed overview of the whole farm. A further
aim is to compare the information/data/problems collected from the farm with
information found in Organic.Edunet Web portal. Groups can be formed as follows:
•
Group 1 is responsible to collect the data and ask questions about:
Feed production: crops, hectares, yields, rotations, feed preservation, fertilization etc.
•
Group 2 is responsible to collect the data and ask questions about:
Animal husbandry: feeding, breeding, productivity, milk quality, health etc.
•
Group 3 is responsible to collect the data and ask questions about:
Milk processing and marketing: milk products produced on the farm, technological
processes, marketing channels and strategies etc.
Students have to prepare and make a presentation (ca 20 min) that includes information
about the farm and at least 3 relevant references found from Organic.Edunet Web portal.
Students should analyse the situation in the farm critically and list their own
opinions/comments/conclusions about the given topics of the group.
Tasting organic milk products during the farm visit
TEACHER’S PREPERATION
Preparation needed:
By the teacher prior for the activity
 If students are not familiar with basic knowledge of
organic dairy farming, then introductory lecture(s) is
needed
 Form the groups of students and introduce the activity
and assessment criteria
Student activities:
Before the visit the students should prepare a detailed list of
questions to be asked during the visit
During the visit
 Exploring the farm and asking the questions
 Working in groups
After the visit:
 Preparing the presentation and searching the scientific
information
 Oral presentation and discussion
Students are searching relevant information and preparing presentations after the farm visit
EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT
Pedagogical approach:
 Group work
 Searching and summarizing scientific articles
 Problem solving
 Presentation and discussion
Pre-requisite skills/knowledge:
Basic knowledge about animal production and organic farming
Context/level of study:
BSc, MSc
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Time allocated:
1-3 days for the introduction lectures
1,5 days for the farm visit and presentations:
 0,5 to 1 day depending how far the farm is
 5 hours of group work and preparing presentations
 1 hour for presentation and discussion
Language:
English
Tools/resources:
All related to the farm visit (transport, special clothing etc).
Access to computers, online scientific databases and articles.
Assessment strategy:
Presentation incl. answering to the questions during
discussion is assessed.
RESOURCES ON ORGANIC.EDUNET
 Scenario description for Organic dairy farm (this document)
 Materials on organic animal production
 Teaching materials on organic animal production (slides, photos, videos)
Key resources:
 Organic animal production in Estonia and in EU. Principles of organic animal
production
 Organic dairy farm (video)
HOW TO FIND THE RESOURCES
1) Go to http://portal.organicedunet.eu
2) Choose menu point “Search”, sub-menu point “Search for Educational Scenarios”
3) Search for keyword: Dairy farm
4) If you want to find only resources from the Estonian University of Life Sciences
(EULS), search for keyword: Dairy farm (EULS). (choose “Exact phrase”)
5) Please note that you may also search for “Dairy farm” in the text-based search.
You might find other resources here on the same topic, but not designed to
support this educational scenario.