This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

No, you cannot take this course for free. When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success Specialization

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Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success Specialization

Dairy Nutrition for Udder Success.

Advance dairy nutrition, health, & milk quality with science-based strategies & modern technology

Instructors: Phil Cardoso, DVM, MS, PhD

Included with Learn more

6 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 37 reviews of courses in this program

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 months to complete

at 10 hours a week

6 course series

Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 37 reviews of courses in this program

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

2 months to complete

at 10 hours a week

What you'll learn

Formulate dairy rations using forage and feed analysis
Apply nutrition strategies to improve cow health and milk quality
Use AI tools to optimize dairy herd management
Analyze milk composition and economics to maximize profitability

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

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Advance your subject-matter expertise

Learn in-demand skills from university and industry experts
Master a subject or tool with hands-on projects
Develop a deep understanding of key concepts
Earn a career certificate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Specialization - 6 course series

This specialization from the University of Illinois offers a comprehensive journey through dairy nutrition, cow health, and milk quality. Across six expert-led courses, learners will explore forage and feed fundamentals, diet formulation, cow wellness, artificial intelligence in dairy management, milk composition, and dairy economics. Designed for nutritionists, veterinarians, producers, and life-long learners, this program delivers practical insights and science-based strategies to optimize dairy herd performance and profitability.

Applied Learning Project

Learners will apply nutrition, health, and economic principles to real-world dairy scenarios, including ration formulation, milk quality analysis, and herd management planning. These real-world scenarios build confidence in applying evidence-based strategies to improve cow wellness and farm profitability.

Fundamentals of Dairy Nutrition: Forages and Feed

Course 1, 11 hours

What you'll learn

Identify the most common feedstuffs based on physical appearance and chemical analysis and understand their role in a typical dairy ration.
Describe the basics of forage growth, harvest, insulation, and storage connecting these principles to dairy nutrition.
Compare common cereal grains and oilseed meals used in dairy rations and understand key factors driving the economic value of feedstuffs.
Describe common feed processing techniques and the nutritional value of resulting byproducts incorporated in dairy rations.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Nutritional Assessment

Category: Cost Estimation

Category: Nutrition Education

Category: Nutrition and Diet

Moving Beyond Basics: Dairy Nutrition and Diet Formulation

Course 2, 13 hours

What you'll learn

Analyze feeding strategies to optimize dairy cow, calf, and heifer health and productivity.
Evaluate key nutritional markers and formulate balanced diets for dairy cattle.
Apply colostrum management and nutrient interactions to enhance cow and calf health.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Nutrition and Diet

Category: Nutritional Assessment

Category: Biochemistry

Category: Food and Beverage

Category: Nutrition Care Plans

Dairy Nutrition & Health: Analyzing Cow Wellness

Course 3, 10 hours

What you'll learn

Understand the physiological changes around calving and their impact on dairy cow health and nutrient needs.
Identify key biomarkers of health and disease and their roles in metabolism, immune function, and liver function.
Diagnose and manage common health problems in dairy cows using metabolic and immune biomarkers.
Apply a systems approach to nutritional management for optimal cow health and productivity.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Nutrition and Diet

Category: Physiology

Category: Systems Analysis

Category: Molecular Biology

Category: Diagnostic Tests

Category: Biochemistry

Category: Preventative Care

Category: Health Assessment

Category: Nutritional Assessment

Category: Laboratory Testing

Category: Life Sciences

Category: Biology

Category: Cell Biology

Advancing Dairy Management with Artificial Intelligence

Course 4, 11 hours

What you'll learn

Discover how AI technologies like IoT and data analytics can boost efficiency and productivity in dairy farming.
Learn to identify, collect, and manage dairy farming data using modern tools and software.
Gain the ability to use machine learning algorithms to analyze dairy farming data and enhance farming practices.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Predictive Analytics

Category: Decision Support Systems

Category: Predictive Modeling

Category: Internet Of Things

Category: Emerging Technologies

Category: Artificial Intelligence

Category: Data Management

Category: Data Collection

Category: Supervised Learning

Category: Nutritional Assessment

Category: Health Assessment

Category: Data Analysis

Category: Machine Learning

Category: Analytics

Category: Machine Learning Methods

Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making

Category: Nutrition and Diet

Discovering Dairy: What's in Your Milk?

Course 5, 9 hours

What you'll learn

Understand mammary gland anatomy and development stages.
Analyze milk composition and its nutritional variations.
Evaluate mastitis prevention strategies and treatments.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Nutrition and Diet

Category: Anatomy

Category: Endocrinology

Category: Cell Biology

Category: Maternal Health

Category: Immunology

Category: Preventative Care

Category: Nutrition Education

Category: Infant Care

Category: Biochemistry

Category: Infection Control

Category: Infectious Diseases

Category: Physiology

Category: Production Process

Dairy Economics: Maximizing Profits through Milk Quality

Course 6, 8 hours

What you'll learn

Describe the immune mechanisms involved in intramammary infections.
Analyze the economic impact of mastitis and evaluate treatment decisions using decision trees and cost models.
Apply diagnostic tools such as somatic cell counts and on-farm culturing.
Identify common mastitis-causing pathogens and their characteristics.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Diagnostic Tests

Category: Cost Management

Category: Cost Benefit Analysis

Category: Immunology

Category: Decision Making

Category: Pathology

Category: Preventative Care

Category: Data-Driven Decision-Making

Category: Infectious Diseases

Category: Operating Cost

Category: Profit and Loss (P&L) Management

Category: Management Reporting

Category: Microbiology

Category: Infection Control

Category: Laboratory Testing

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Phil Cardoso, DVM, MS, PhD

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 Courses2,817 learners

Josh McCann, PhD

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

1 Course1,649 learners

Derek Nolan

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 Courses621 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Why people choose Coursera for their career

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Learner since 2020

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Learner since 2021

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Frequently asked questions

This specialization consists of six 4-week courses. Each week may take approximately 2 hours.

No, you do not need to take the courses in a specific order.

Although completion of the Coursera Specialization alone is not credit-bearing, each course within the Specialization is a required component of a graduate-level Canvas course that can be "stacked" toward advanced credentials such as an academic (transcriptable) graduate certificate or a degree. If you decide to pursue further education, the credits you earn from this Specialization can be applied toward a formal academic program, provided that you meet all the requirements of admission to the certificate or degree. Learn more about the Land, Agriculture and Alternative Investing Certificate.