Three Complete Field
DAVID BIGELOW
Training Coordinator
STATE COLLEGE (Centre
Co.) Three people recently
completed field training to further
their education in serving as a tech
nician for the Pennsylvania Dairy
Herd Improvement Association.
Jim LeClair, of New York,
Debbie Hart of Mercer County,
and Steve Crowley, of New Yoik
completed a five-day field training
seminar last week. The training is
one of several steps in Pa.DHIA
training procedures.
Before attending the five-day
field training seminar, all new
technicians receive initial training,
which involves working directly
jg are, from the left, Jim
< LaClalr, Pebble Hart and Steve Crowley.
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with an appointed trainer from
Pa.DHIA.
In the initial training, all aspects
of the testing procedures are cov
ered, as well as developing famil
iarity with a laptop computer.
The overview of responsibili
ties, sample handling, and equip
ment procedures are covered in
depth.
Pa.DHIA considers on-the-farm
training important and newly hired
technicians are accompanied by a
trainer who explains how the tech
nician is to perform in each of three
methods of milking cows by
parlor, pipeline, and bucket
At this first training, practical
situations are covered, such as
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Training
managing a circuit and recogniz
ing a rule infraction.
Much time is spent on how tech
nicians are expected to handle cer
tain situations that may arise while
conducting field duties, with an
ever-present commitment to estab
lish and maintain an easy and reli
able link for communication
between clients, staff and
administration.
As the trainee completes two
weeks of employment, the trainer
again provides another round of
training for the technician.
This second layer of training
involves having the trainer be
together with the relatively inex
perienced technician at six diffe
rent herds. The trainer evaluates
performance and determines if
additional basic training is needed.
The five-day field training semi
nar follows shortly after the two
week evaluation.
A span of time between training
sessions is built into the system to
allow more real-world experiences
for the technician, from which
questions can be developed. It also
allows time for development of
communication skills between
Pa.DHIA staff and the client dairy
men on the circuit
The field training seminar cov
ers aspects of more advanced tech
nician responsibilities and addi
tional services available through
PaJ>HIA.
Involved are such things as
learning in-depth the Pa.DHIA
Quick Bam Sheet on the laptop
computer. A special emphasis of
the training is put on the correct
use of the computer, as well as hav
ing each technician become famil
iar with each of the options
available.
The correct procedure for start-
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ing a new herd, handling split
herds, technician professionalism
and circuit management are among
some of the many different sub
jects covered, along with dealing
with unusual or unanticipated bam
situations.
An in-depth study of feed and
forage is also taught, along with
the different formulas needed to
calculate milk price.
Special emphasis is placed on
using the laptop computer during
field training.
Technicians participating in
field training also get a tour of the
PU.DHIA sample and meter labor
atory to familiarize technicians
with the general operations of the
cooperative organization.
Leaming how PTAs (predicted
transmitting abilities, a term to
describe the potential genetic
“strength” of a pedigree animal’s
traits) are read, and interpreting the
member-client’s reports are a high
priority goal for the week of tech
nician training. Each report a dairy
farmer receives is analyzed and
reviewed in depth.
Additional topics covered dur
ing this field training include hand
ling the documents and record cal-
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Uncaster Farming, Saturday, Hay 18, 1996-/133
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100
125
150
165
200
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220
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dilations for cows transferred in
state and out-of-state. Time is
specifically set aside for each tech
nician to learn the PaDHIA heifer
management program and how to
fill out the reports.
At the end of the five-day semi
nar. a certification exam is given to
each technician to evaluate
whether or not additional training
may be warranted.
After six months employment,
technicians are evaluated by the
manager of the region in which the
technician works. The evaluation
is conducted by a visit to a farm
while the technician is conducting
testing. It is determined then if the
technician is capable of continuing
with limited supervision.
After that, technicians are eva
luated on an annual basis, with
input from members being served
on the technician’s circuit. This is
done by giving each member a
questionnaire to complete.
This information, as well as
input from the region manager is
used to determine what additional
training or help a particular techni
cian may need.
For more information about
PaDHIA, call (800) DHI-TEST.
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RATI
IE POWER RATING
rpm 11500 RPM
PRIN
1800
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