Cattle feeding on hay
Dairy Cow Genes
Grades 9-12
Farmers have spent years using technological advancements in agriculture to come up with methods to reproduce the best types of dairy cows. Using the concepts of genetics, farmers can create cattle offspring with the best traits that help with dairy production. How exactly are farmers able to do this? We will explore the answer to this question in the lesson.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
Students will be able to explain how farmers can use genetics to reproduce dairy cows with the best traits for dairy production.
- How does genetics play a role in farmers producing cattle with the best traits?
- How does the DNA code in cattle contribute to cattle having the best milk production and fertilization traits?
Maryland Farm & Harvest Clip
- Why is Mr. Katsumi Ito visiting this Hagerstown farm?
- What is Mr. Ito specifically looking for from the dairy cows on this farm?
- What do you think is meant by the term “elite genes”?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
and Defining Problems
“Dairy Cattle: Breeding and Genetics” - Scientific Journal
Students will read a scientific journal publication on dairy cattle breeding and genetics. After reading the article, students should explain what questions the scientists and farmers asked and the solutions they came up with to obtain the best results (e.g., high milk yield, long lifespans, and successful reproduction and fertilization).
Cattle Trait Inheritance
Students will view a model of cattle with a variety of traits. Students should perform dihybrid crosses on different cattle to provide the probability of what traits their offspring would inherit.
DNA to Proteins
Students will view a model of two different genes with two different sets of DNA. Students should interpret the image to explain that the structure of DNA ultimately determines the structure of proteins and thereby affects traits produced in an organism.
Career Connections
