Wisconsin Cows are Happier Cows don’t surf so why would they care to live in California?

Concentration of Herds – Where’s the Beef?!

How much milk could a milk cow drink, if a milk cow could drink milk? California 1,829,000 1,810.5% 88% 3,415,000,000 Lbs. Wisconsin 1,249,000 1,545 45% 19% 1,998,000,000 Lbs. Total # Lbs./Cow Herd size per farm <100 >499 Total Annual Production 2007 USDA

Number of Cows per Farm

Farm Conditions - California

 Usually very crowded  Larger “feedlot” type setup with little to no shelter  Short lifespan ~4 Yrs  No real grass pasture land  Mostly processed feed  Contents:  Grains and grain by-products (corn, rice, soybean, oats, etc.)  Plastics  Drugs – hormones/antibiotics  Animal feed legally can contain rendered road kill, dead horses, and euthanized cats and dogs.  Same species meat banned for cows after mad cow deal  Poultry litter – may contain bits of real cow – mmmmm….Beefy  Milking conditions Farm Conditions - California

 Smaller, less crowded  Large open pastures and fields  Full of grass, hay, alfalfa  Small portions of grains during winter months  Barn facilities Farm Conditions - Wisconsin

Hormones  Use of rGBH (recombinant bovine growth hormone)  Bovine somatotropin  Increases production 11-16%  Increased risk of mastitis (25%)  Reduced fertility (40%)  Lameness (55%)  Said to not effect humans

Happy Cows = Happy Food Cheese Milk Iced Cream Yogurts Butter Cream Products Casein

CHEESE

Cheese Nearly 1,200 makers Over 600 Varieties 52 Master Makers Only state with any

References  Changes in the Size and Location of U.S. Dairy Farms, USDA Economic Research Service, Changes in the Size and Location of U.S. Dairy Farms  USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Milk Production, 2007, Production  2012 Dairy Data, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board,  2010 Mid Year Report, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Dairy Marketing Branch.  2007 Census Volume 1, Chapter 1: State Level Data, USDA NASS, er_1_State_Level/Wisconsin/ er_1_State_Level/California/ er_1_State_Level/Wisconsin/ er_1_State_Level/California/  Union of Concerned Scientists, What the Eat, agriculture/they-eat-what-the-reality-of.html agriculture/they-eat-what-the-reality-of.html  Dohoo, IR; Leslie, K; Descôteaux, L; Fredeen, A; Dowling, P; Preston, A; Shewfelt, W (2003). "A meta-analysis review of the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin. 1. Methodology and effects on production". Canadian journal of veterinary research 67 (4): 241–51"A meta-analysis review of the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin. 1. Methodology and effects on production"  Wisconsin Cheese Marketing Board,