The Domestication Project
In this project we were required to pick a research and testing subject related to the domestication of animals.
First we were supposed to find a research question.
Why do some jersey cows eat more molasses than others?
Then we developed our means of data analysis and data collection to best solve this question that we formulated. Then we collected the data. and finally analyze it all seen in my infographic at the bottom of this page.
First we were supposed to find a research question.
Why do some jersey cows eat more molasses than others?
Then we developed our means of data analysis and data collection to best solve this question that we formulated. Then we collected the data. and finally analyze it all seen in my infographic at the bottom of this page.
What and why did I pick this area of study?
I chose to study and experement on cows. The reason for this is because my father had recently started supplementing
molasses into the diets of the cows. Because other farmers were doing the same thing for carbohydrate balancing, and were having great health and production improvements in their cows. I was wondering if this was in-fact making a real impact on our cows.
molasses into the diets of the cows. Because other farmers were doing the same thing for carbohydrate balancing, and were having great health and production improvements in their cows. I was wondering if this was in-fact making a real impact on our cows.
How I collected my information.
I have decided that to best test this experiment I will use a wide angle camera to take a time-lapse video of the cows eating the molasses during milking. I will then observe whether the cow prefers to eat molasses or not I will identify each cows name and later correlate it to the data of diet of each cow in the field later. I will shoot another video of the cows out in the field, and again I will have their names to help me identify them in the field, before hand. I will have looked at which parts of the field have the lushest grass (protein rich). Finally I will compare which cows ate the lush grass and which ate the molasses, and look for any recurring corresponding data. I will be testing Jersey cows near the end of their lactation. I tested 2o cows. I will be collaborating with my father who would like to know this as well because they are his cows.
I also have our herd manager identify all of the cows in the video and in the field. That way I know which names are paired with which cow. The cows are Jersey cows, with the exception of some Normandy crosses. The cross bred cows are mostly Jersey though. This is near the end of these cows lactations, and they are all female.
I also have our herd manager identify all of the cows in the video and in the field. That way I know which names are paired with which cow. The cows are Jersey cows, with the exception of some Normandy crosses. The cross bred cows are mostly Jersey though. This is near the end of these cows lactations, and they are all female.