Dairy Youth Gain Hands-On Experience in Milk Quality and Milk Production

cll243
May 22
4 min read

Dairy Youth Gain Hands-On Experience in Milk Quality and Milk Production

Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY Hosts Annual Dairy Discovery Workshop for Youth

ITHACA, New York (March 27-28, 2026) - Another year, an ‘udder’ Dairy Discovery Workshop hosted by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, where each year’s unique theme allows participants to focus on a different area of the dairy industry. Held March 27-28 at Morrison Hall on the Cornell University campus, this year’s program was themed “Quality Milk and Milk Production.”

Each year features a new hands-on theme that focuses on a different area of the dairy industry. If youth participate for five consecutive years, they can complete all program focuses, ensuring that the critical enterprises of the dairy industry are covered. Coupling real-world experience from industry professionals, insightful teaching sessions from campus staff, and hands-on science-oriented learning experiences across the Cornell CALS campus, the program is a testament to the strong interest youth have in the dairy industry and innovative technologies available throughout New York.

The program began Friday evening with a conversational ‘meet and greet’ dinner alongside a presentation from Anna Cummings, Assistant Director of Cornell CALS Admissions, who explained the majors, minors, and connected opportunities Cornell offers while also breaking down the undergraduate admissions process.

Saturday morning, Deborah Grusenmeyer, PRO-DAIRY Youth Specialist and program organizer, welcomed over 60 participants to the Dairy Discovery Program and introduced factors that affect milk quality and the key fundamentals of milk production, including biology and dissection of the mammary gland, managing pathogens, milking machine components, determining mastitis and somatic cell count in milk, and how cow comfort and stall environment affects mastitis levels.

Participants used all of their senses during a sensory evaluation of dairy products, where they learned about sensory science, classic defects, and the causes of off-flavors in milk before immediately engaging their smell and taste buds to identify those for off-flavors. Farmers, processors, and store owners should adequately and proactively avoid off-flavors to ensure consumer satisfaction and a positive experience. Another key takeaway encouraged consumers to drink pasteurized milk to avoid harmful bacteria while ensuring the next generation understands the source of their milk products. Through drinking pasteurized milk free from off-flavors, consumers expect a slightly sweet, creamy, light, and clean flavor profile. One negative experience with milk could lead to long-term consumer dissatisfaction in the dairy aisle.

Hands-on learning was a key component as Dairy Discovery participants practiced administering antibiotics through the teat and using teat sealant equipment, allowing youth to gain practical experience with skills that can be used at their home farming operations. Understanding the correct procedures for preventing mastitis in dried-off cows and properly administering teat sealant were key takeaways according to Quinn Kolar, Senior Lecturer of Animal Sciences at Cornell University. Dissections allow for a better understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the udder and milk veins, including how very little milk is actually stored in the udder itself, with most milk stored in the cells. Udders donated from the local slaughterhouse and a 90-100 day uterine calf allowed participants to study anatomy beyond textbook images. Participants were also encouraged to conclude whether an udder specimen had experienced mastitis, as scar tissue from previous mastitis infection can often be identified within the udder.

Josiah Feier(participant) ensured that the teat sealant was correctly administered by cutting off a teat to look inside the milk vein and states that it was his most memorable experience of the weekend. He shared that “seeing new, more efficient ways of doing things helps participants develop ideas they can bring back and apply to their own farms”.

As dairy industry trends continue toward larger farms, older cows remaining in production longer, and more available careers than people to fill them, proper udder care management practices highlight the technical and management skills future leaders can apply both as marketable career skills and on their home farm operations.

Students were also transported throughout the day to the Cornell Teaching Barn, to apply classroom lessons to real-life situations on the operating farm. Dr. Rick Walters of AgroChem USA and Senior Animal Health Advisor met students at the barn and taught them about the minute details of preventing mastitis with milking, primarily through the proper use of milking machine equipment.

Identifying risk factors is important, as milking equipment accounts for 20% or less of mastitis cases. However, milking equipment can create induced mastitis, which is preventable through correct milking time periods and properly functioning equipment. A major takeaway for students was that by avoiding overmilking, the teat canal generally remains open for 30-60 minutes after milking. If the teat becomes congested from overmilking, however, it can remain open for one to six hours, significantly increasing the risk of mastitis and sickness within cows.

Members of the Dairy Discovery program also explored the science behind milk quality and the pathogens that affect herd health through identification and treatment workshops focused on mastitis. Decision-making was emphasized as a crucial skill, as youth learned that not all mastitis cases require the same treatment approach. Severity, bacteria type, cow history, and stage of lactation all factor into the level of treatment and intervention needed.

Being able to use high-quality technologies and industry standard on-farm culture techniques, such as diagnostic tools that allowed producers to identify mastitis-causing pathogens within 24 hours, reinforced the importance of accessible tools in modern dairy production. Detecting symptoms before they become visible and understanding environment and management factors such as proper hygiene and stall design leads to a deeper understanding of how science-based practices drive herd health, milk production, and overall farm success.

The purpose of Dairy Discovery is to provide opportunities that excite young folks about the dairy industry. Cornell has graciously hosted the program for years while maintaining its integrity and focus on education, research, outreach, and exposure to innovative science. Because technology within the dairy industry is constantly evolving, there is always something new to learn. Seeing concepts from a new ‘lens’ allows participants to gain shared experiences and apply hands-on learning to practical situations. By investing in the next generation of dairy youth, programs like Dairy Discovery encourage participants to support, sustain, and pursue careers in agriculture.

Applications for the next Dairy Discovery Workshop will open in January every year and remain open until the program is capped or the March deadline occurs, whichever comes first. To learn more about the program, visit https://cals.cornell.edu/pro-dairy/our-expertise/youth/dairy-discovery-workshop.