Diploma in Animal Science Technology: Dairy Science Major
Vermilion, Canada
Diploma
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
CAD 20,185 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* includes tuition, fees, books/supplies, and mandatory health insurance
Key Summary
About: The Diploma in Animal Science Technology, Dairy Science Major at Lakeland College pairs classroom study with hands-on Student-Managed Farm (SMF) experience. You’ll manage the dairy herd, use robotic and parlour milking, automated feeding in the Dairy Learning Centre, follow proAction and train through CowSignals, gaining skills in barn management, budgeting, nutrition and welfare. Finish in one or two years.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter dairy production and industry. Typical roles: herdsperson, laborer, dairy manager, sales rep (feed, pharma, genetics), livestock support technician, equipment technician, classifier, proAction validator, milk tester, animal care specialist, semen collection/distribution and in dairy consulting and management.
You’ll learn hands-on and through student-managed activities on our Student-Managed Farm - Powered by New Holland (SMF).
Those activities range from practical herd management to implementing new technologies.
As a member of the SMF dairy unit, you'll help manage the college's dairy herd. Your team makes production decisions based on what you learn from:
- working with robots and parlour milking systems as well as automated feeding in the Dairy Learning Centre
- being part of the proAction process on the campus farm
- training through CowSignals
- connecting with industry, including Alberta Milk
- developing skills such as barn management and budgeting
You’ll graduate armed with the knowledge and tools to return to the farm or to make your mark in another area of the dairy sector.
Year I Required Courses
- Microeconomics
- Business Records & Reporting
- Introduction to Diseases & Treatments
- Introduction to Animal Science & Business Communications
Animal Anatomy and Physiology
- Animal Handling, Welfare and Ethics
- Introduction to Livestock Nutrition
- Introduction to Student Managed Farm
- Dairy Cattle Production
- Range and Forage Management
Year II Required Courses
- Financial Management
- Dairy Genetics
- Dairy Reproductive Technologies
- Livestock Marketing and Sales
- Dairy Herd Management I
- Dairy Herd Management II
- Dairy Business Management
- Advanced Dairy Nutrition
Students are required to choose two of the below
- Student Managed Farm Livestock I
- Student Managed Farm Livestock II
or
- Student Directed Livestock Practicum I
- Student Directed Livestock Practicum II
Graduates typically find work as:
- herdsperson, labourer or dairy manager
- sales representatives for feed, pharmaceutical, genetics, equipment or nutrition companies
- livestock support technicians
- equipment service technicians
- classifier
- proAction validator
- feed and health regulatory support technicians, such as milk testers
- animal care/welfare specialists
- semen collection/distribution/sales