Milestones of Baby Livestock

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  CTE-AFNR.9123031.8106220.3.4 - Describe the proper care of newborn offspring.

  CTE-AFNR.9123031.8106220.1.4 - Examine the importance of a balanced ration for animals based on the animal’s growth stage (e.g., maintenance, newborn, gestation, lactation, etc.)

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, “Challenges in Neonatal Goat Care and Nutrition.” See CPALMS resource ID#215702.

• Career Connection

  
  

  In this lesson, students will learn about livestock and research the appropriate milestones, including weight gains, that livestock go through, while using problem solving skills, collaboration, and communication.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Describe effective care of newborn livestock.
  • Research milestones of different livestock.
  • Present and explain information about livestock.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with:

  • the purpose of breeding livestock.
  • reproduction systems of different livestock.
  • parental roles of baby livestock.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • When must humans intervene to help livestock mothers?
  • What methods are used to feed livestock babies (both in nature and by humans)?
  • How does the method of feeding impact livestock babies' development

• Procedure

  
  
  1. To introduce the lesson, ask the following questions to the whole class:
     • What do you know about the birthing process of any livestock?
     • How fast do baby livestock grow?
  2. Distribute “Case Study: Challenges in Neonatal Goat Care and Nutrition”, CPALMS Resource ID# 215702.
     • Allow students time to read and highlight the Case Study individually with the goal of identifying correct human interventions with animals.
  3. Divide the class into groups of 2-3 students to discuss the questions:
     • What did Jesse do right in the given circumstances?
     • Why were the steps Jesse took to prepare for the birth of the baby goats important?
     • How did Jesse ensure the well-being of and development of the newborn goats immediately after birth?
     • How did Jesse address the challenges she faced with Flower's development?
     • What could be some of the reasons for Flower's slower weight gain compared to her siblings?
     • What should Jesse do when she notices a problem with Flower?
     • How might Jesse's intervention strategies changes if another one of Pebbles' babies were to show similar signs of malnourishment in the future?
  4. Using same groups, pass out the Group Worksheet (1 per group), assign each group a different type of livestock: Cows, Sheep, Chickens, Ducks, Pigs, Horses, Turkeys, Geese, etc.
     • Students will research and complete Group Worksheet on their respective type of livestock.
  5. Hand out Individual Worksheet (1 per student). Groups will orally present their research to the class, while each student fills out Individual Worksheet for each type of livestock presented.
  6. To bring the lesson to a close, discuss the following questions:
     • What do you notice about the different types of livestock in terms of their milestones
     • How could you use Jesse's intervention strategies and apply them to your type of livestock? Justify your answer.
     • How does the monitoring of livestock (like in the case study) help humans know when to intervene?

• Teacher Notes

  
  

  Extension Ideas:

  • As part of step 6, students can make a digital presentation on their type of livestock to present to the rest of the class.

  Lesson Handouts:

  • Workheet 2 allows for 3 groups - may need to be duplicated front and back for students to be able to complete information for all groups.