Vacuno de leche

A 90-minute, 4-round basic Express simulation for Spanish vocational training (Formacion Profesional), module 0477 Produccion de leche, huevos y animales para vida of the Tecnico en Produccion Agropecuaria (Real Decreto 1634/2009).

The learner is Uxia Ferreiro, a newly qualified herd manager of a fictional family dairy farm of 180 Holstein cows in a parish of Lugo (Galicia) through the 2027-28 dairy year, with 2.38 million litres of milk at stake and a feed budget of 249 euros per 1,000 litres.

Four situations set the farm's course: October 2027, and how the herd is fed (a ration by group from the silage analysis, not more concentrate for every cow) and how the cows get back in calf (heat collars and the vet's visits); January 2028, and how the cows are dried off (a selective dry-off on the vet's prescription, with a sealant) and how the herd is replaced (heifers reared from the best cows, culling on a plan); April 2028, and how the herd is housed for the heat (fans, sprinklers and one cubicle per cow) and how it is milked (the full milking routine and the machine checked); and August 2028, and how sick, injured and dead cows are handled (a protocol with the vet and the authorised collection) and how the year is closed (milk, feed cost, cells and records in order).

Two critical errors cap the round: drying off every cow with leftover antibiotic tubes with no prescription and no record, and burying dead cows on the farm. Some mistakes look fine on the day and come back periods later. KPIs: milk reached (per cent of the attainable), feed cost per 1,000 litres, somatic cell count and cows lost. Lesson: the cost of the ration only comes back in litres if the cow is healthy.

Spanish primary, English parity. Fictional parish, farm, dairy, cooperative, veterinarian and people; real curriculum and rules cited.

An introductory simulation that assumes no prior knowledge of the subject, designed for undergraduate courses. It also works in vocational and high-school programmes and in onboarding sessions.