South Bruce 4-H Dairy Club learns about genetics in cows

Spring is here and so is another year for the South Bruce 4-H Dairy Club. The club kicked off the first meeting, April 9, at the Teeswater Agri-Curl.

Every year, the club focuses on a different part of the dairy industry. Last year, the members learned about the dairy cow’s nutrition and digestive system. This year, they will be covering genetics and the reproductive system in cows.

To help club members get more familiar with the seven different dairy breeds, recognized in Canada, Sarah Weber, the club’s youth leader, led everyone in a game of “Who’s who?” dairy edition.

For this game, the club was split into two teams and was given a list of breed traits to match with a picture of the cow. As the game unfolded, it became a rush down to the last trait with the red team finishing only seconds before the blue team.

As a reward, each of the members was given a choice between a candy bar or coin, most of the members chose candy while a few opted for toonies. Sarah used the rewards to transition into the next activity which was judging.

When people think of judging, most will picture someone in a suit and tie with a microphone giving official reasons. Sarah explained to the club that judging is something we use every day, from picking outfits when we wake up, to deciding what to have for supper or in this case, picking one item from a tray of goodies, as the club had done that evening.

To help the members get more comfortable with judging, Sarah had them place the seven different breeds of cows in order, from their favourite to the one they like the least. After everyone had finished judging, the members discussed some of the reasons for their placings.

Next, Gord Milley, one of the leaders, guided the club through the executive elections. He explained parliamentary procedures, and the steps to making motions. The election results were as follows: president Sarah Weber, vice-president Oliver Ruetz, secretary Julia Ferrier, and press reporter Maria Weber.

Following elections, Christine Weber showed the club how to use a punnett square and explained what it is. A punnett square is a diagram used to determine the percentage at which a calf will inherit certain traits from the sire or dam. For example, if a farmer crosses a black Holstein cow with a red Holstein bull, he can use the punnett square to determine the chances of the calf being red or black.

Christine also taught the club the difference between dominate and recessive genes, and how some traits are passed down by the dam (the cow) and some are determined by the sire (the bull).

To help the club members get a better understanding of how this works, leader Jaclyn Bell had the members combine one of the dairy breeds with a zoo animal. The club split into groups of two. Using a punnett square and their imaginations to combine parents’ traits, each team created a new animal.

After determining the traits their animal would have, the members attempted to draw a picture of what these animals would look like. Oliver and Amelia’s animal featured a Jersey cow with the neck and legs of a giraffe. While Julia and Bindley combined their Jersey with an ostrich to get a fast feathered cow that laid eggs.

Other members’ combinations included a Holstein Cow that had a tail and hands like a monkey, and a Brown Swiss cow which resembled a lion with its mane, tail and paws.

When the laughing was over and the animals finished, it was time for a quick snack while the leaders reviewed the rules and requirements of the club this year.

The next meeting will be held in May.

The South Bruce 4-H Dairy Club thanks the Teeswater Agri-Curl for allowing the club to use its building.



South Bruce 4-H Dairy Club members at the first meeting



South Bruce 4-H Dairy Club youth leader Sarah Weber (right) leads everyone in a game of "Who's Who?" dairy edition