A24-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 8, 1996
‘ Hands-On ’ Approach Brings Employment For Graduates
Of Delaware Valley College’s Dairy Science Program
(Condnuad from Pag* A 1)
scicnce/dairy science students is
rethinking some of the things they
learned since they began work on
the farm.
For the small percentage who
haven’t grown up on a farm, “they
don't come in with any perceived
notions of what should be," said
George Gross, dairy superinten
dent of .the college. “And they’re
vciy open to learning evciything
about animals."
That includes type and produc
tion and examining how to
reconcile the two.
For the majority of the students,
according to Gross, they believe
that “Mom and Dad’s done it like
this and you have to diplomatically
explain to them that maybe that’s
not the best way, or here’s another
alternative," said Gross.
“But sometimes our ways don’t
work, and Mom and Dad's way,
the way their farm is set up, works
best.”
Gross, in his dual role as super
intendent and dairy science
instructor, manages a herd of 71
cows on test, including 46 Hols
teins, 10 Jerseys, 13 Aytshires, and
two Brown Swiss. There are a total
of 36 replacement stock from
calves to 2 year-olds.
Altogether the Delaware Valley
College farm encompasses 625
acres, of which 450 arc tillable.
(The 625 acres includes the equine
center, orchards, all livestock
facilities, and the athletic Gelds).
Of the 450 tillable acres, 190 acres
are in com, 150 in alfalfa, 80 in
timothy, and 30 are in soybeans.
On Pa.DHIA, milking herd
averages arc 22,895 pounds for the
Holsteins, including 876 f, 763 p,
and 2058 on milk solids nonfat
(MSNF). For the Jerseys, milk tot
als arc 14,539 pounds, 718 f, 553 p,
and 1366 MSNF. For the Ayr
shircs, milk totals are 16,785
pounds, 652 f, 550 p, and 1477
MSNF. The Brown Swiss aver
ages are 15,529 pounds, 640 f,
563 p, and 1413 MSNF.
Gross works to ensure that stu
dents enrolled in the program leant
all the basics of running a farm,
including milking, feeding,
instruction in breeding manage
ment, heat checks, spotting cows
and getting them ready, cleaning,
health care, and selection of
replacement animals.
Each week Gross keeps track of
the nearly 200 student-hours of
work study and class participation.
Students become involved early on
in the college's mission to provide
Improvement of the herd Is key to rounding out the education of the dairy science
majors. “We’re constantly trying to breed to the better bulls, use TMR, and made a
couple more improvements,” said Gross, at right. At left is Shane Betz, herdsman.
Altogether the Delaware Valley College farm encompas- and the athletic fields). Of the 450 tillable acres, 190 acres
ses 625 acres, of which 450 are tillable. (The 625 acres are in corn, 150 in alfalfa, 80 in timothy, and 30 are in
includes the equine center, orchards, ail livestock facilities, soybeans.
hands-on learning and the “action
advantage" 24-weck employment
program to enhance the skills
learned on campus.
In its centennial year, the col
lege hopes to continue a tradition
of learning by doing, begun in
1896.
More than 90 percent of DVC
graduates find work or continue to
further their education, according
to 1994 placement figures pre
sented by Chris Beadling, director
of public relations for the college.
Those employed account for 77
percent of the respondents while
15 percent were continuing their
studies. Of the respondents
employed, 82 percent were
employed in their major.
Graduates work for a variety of
employers in the tri-state area.
For daily science majors, it’s
not just learning about type and
selection of proper genetics. It’s
also learning how to run the dairy
as a business. It’s an emphasis on
how to increase production.
Instruction combines all the ele
ments used by successful daily
operations while putting the talents
of the students to the test.
This also includes teaching how
to clean and prepare an animal for
showing, especially at the big
events such as the state Fann Show
and even some of the county fairs.
At the 1995 Allentown Fair, a
Delaware Valley College 3-year
old Holstein, Doll, won grand
champion female. She also was
grand champion at several other
shows, including the Kimberton,
The best animals In the DVC herd in terms of production. From left, George Gross at
the halter of NGS Gracious, a 3-year-old Holstein. Shane Betz is at the halter of Stoney
Knob Carmel Brandy, a 2-year-old Jersey. At right Is Rosebud, a 3-year-old Brown
Swiss out of Trident. Photo by Andy Androws
Goshen, and Bucks County fairs.
The champion cow’s breedbook
name is Peticote Leadman Doll-
ET, bred by William Pettit, Vin
ccntown, N.J. The Excellent cow’s
sire is Rothrock Tradition Lead
man and dam is Peticote Black
Donut The 3 year-old was pro
jected at 22,000+ pounds.
Students not only are in charge
of showing and fitting the animals,
but they also maintain the display
at the state Farm Show. The exhi
bit, featuring the pedigree boards
and facts about the college’s daily
program, attracts hundreds of visi
tors at Farm Show. For setting up
the display and keeping the area
clean and open, the college was
honored with the overall House
keeping Award the past few years.
This 3-year-old Holstein, Peticote Leadman Doll-ET, won
champion of several fairs, including Allentown. Shane Betz
is at the halter.
Gross said, “We’re very proud
of our students because in the last
three years they have won the
overall award. They’re involved in
a course in which they actually do
(Turn to Pago A2B)