Dairy Cows Who they are and how we raise them

Dairy Cows Are less muscular than beef cattle Often look thin to the uneducated consumer Produce milk for 10 months each year after giving birth to their calves

Holstein

Holland High level of milk production Lower butterfat production Require lots of grain to make their milk Not good grazers

Ayrshire

Scotland Medium milk and butterfat producers Less common in New England than Holsteins

Brown Swiss

Switzerland Largest of the US dairy breeds Slow maturing Medium milk and butterfat Used to cross for beef production

Guernsey

Isle of Guernsey in France High levels of butterfat High level of carotene in the milk which gives a golden color Less popular now than before the cholesterol scare began

Jersey

Isle of Jersey in English Channel Smallest of the US dairy breeds High level of butterfat Lower milk production

Milking Shorthorn

Scotland/England Dual purpose breed Used for milk and beef production on small farms particularly in New England

Calves and calf raising

Calf Hutch

Calf Raising Individual hutches allow calves to get Fresh air Freedom to move around Individualized feeding Sunshine

Calf Hutches

For the first 3 days, calves drink their mother’s milk from a pail or bottle Multi-nippled calf feeders allow calves to “free choice” feed as they grow

Housing for Dairy Cattle

Stanchion (confinement) Housing Cows spend most of their time in individual “head lock” stanchions Food and water are supplied in front of them

Free Stall Housing Between milkings cows can: Lie down where they wish Eat Move around freely

Feeding stations allow each cow her own space for eating

The End