Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship | Ridgetown Campus
Why choose the Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship Program?
Choose our Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship Program to gain hands-on experience and in-depth training in cow care. The program offers practical, on-farm learning combined with classroom instruction, covering essential skills like herd health, nutrition, and barn maintenance. This comprehensive approach equips you with the expertise needed for a successful career in dairy management.
- 90% On-Farm Training
- 5,520 hours of on-farm training with your employer are required, following the Apprenticeship Training Standard which describes the skills you must become competent in to complete your training.
- 10% In-School Training
- 480 hours of in-school training is required, which will focus primarily on the theory you need to support the skills in the Apprenticeship Training Standard.
Apply in 3 steps
Once you are working and your employer has agreed to sponsor you as an apprentice, you/your employer will need to contact the Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office.
They will instruct you on how to complete an Application for Apprenticeship Training.
The Apprenticeship Training Consultant from the Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office will contact you and your employer about signing and registering a Training Agreement.
After you are a registered apprentice, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development will send you an Offer of Classroom Training letter.
Once you have received an offer for in class training from the Ministry, Ridgetown Campus will be able to register you into the in-class training program.
To become an apprentice Dairy Herdsperson, you need to complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Ministry-approved equivalent. Credits in math, science, and communications are helpful. Some knowledge of agriculture is also beneficial.
Apprentices must be members of the Skilled Trades Ontario (more details in the How to Apply section below), and your employer must agree to provide you with apprenticeship training. If you want to learn more about apprenticeship training or get help finding a sponsor, please contact your local Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office.
Note: Dairy Herdsperson is a voluntary certified trade and you do not require a Certificate of Apprenticeship to work in this trade. However, an apprenticeship will increase your knowledge and your opportunities.
- 480 hours of in-school training is required, which will focus primarily on the theory you need to support the skills in the Apprenticeship Training Standard
- The in-school training component is delivered, in-person, by the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
- You must attend sixteen, one-week blocks during your apprenticeship period. The four-day blocks are scheduled once per month, from August to March, over a two-year period, usually the first or second week of the month
- Modules include:
- Applied Farm Practices
- Milking Practices
- Feeding Practices
- Herd Health Maintenance
- Routine Herd Maintenance
- Farm Mechanical and Electrical Systems – Basic Maintenance
- Farm Mechanical Equipment – Basic Maintenance
Year 1 Approximate Costs
| Student Fees | $400.00 |
| Additional Certification Fees | $400.00 |
| Field Trip Fees | $775.00 |
Year 2 Approximate Costs
| Student Fees | $400.00 |
| Additional Certification Fees | $400.00 |
| Field Trip Fees | $775.00 |
What people are saying about the Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship program
"I grew up on a dairy farm in a small town near Niagara Falls, so coming to Ridgetown Campus was an easy decision for me. I can get the most out of my learning experience because the class sizes are small and the instructors get to know you by name."
The Dairy Herdsperson Apprenticeship Program is an excellent opportunity for individuals to learn practical, hands on skills for the dairy industry. It is an excellent alternative opportunity for those individuals who are looking for an alternative to a traditional diploma. In this course, you work with the Ministry of Labour, and a sponsoring dairy farm while also taking training in pesticide handling, nutrient management, artificial insemination, hoof trimming, and other skills important to the operation of a dairy farm.
Are you ready to improve life?
The Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Discover Ridgetown
The Ridgetown Campus is part of U of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College. We are leaders in applied agricultural, animal science, and environmental research, and in life-long learning initiatives that are practical and relevant to society.