Dairy farming focuses on raising dairy cows for the production of milk and other dairy products. The care of cows is an important part of successful dairy farming.
Healthy Cows are Happy Dairy Cows
Dairy farmers take excellent care of their cows. They provide dairy cattle with clean and comfortable housing, fresh water, food, and medical attention when necessary. Dairy farmers know that healthy, happy cows produce milk of a higher quality, so the animals’ well-being is a farmer’s top priority.
Feeding & Drinking Dairy Cattle
You may not have known that dairy cattle can eat up to 100 pounds of food per day. Some dairy farmers allow their cows to graze on grass or provide them with alfalfa hay. Many farmers also choose to supplement their cows’ diets with mixed ration feeds including corn, soybeans, sorghum, and other grains to provide additional nutrients and fiber. Many farmers employ a nutritionist who formulates feed rations and a specific diet for milk cows. The diet is based on their age, weight, if they’re milking or dry, or if they have any other health considerations.
Perhaps not one of the well-known cow facts, but cows can drink as much as 50 gallons of water each day. This makes it important for cows to have a clean and accessible water supply.
Dairy Cattle Comfort & Housing
Cows require a lot of time to rest and digest their food. Therefore, dairy farmers provide cows with a variety of bedding options. Cow fact: they spend up to 12 hours lying down daily. Some of the products used include sawdust shavings, sand, shredded recycled tire rubber, dried manure that’s been pressed and sanitized, and some barns even have waterbed-style mattresses.
The beds and walkways are scraped for manure and flushed with water several times a day. Some dairy farms have systems that can sift and separate the water, manure, sand, or other bedding so that the products can be cleaned and recycled for later use.
Keeping cows cool, especially in the summertime, is important in keeping milk production up. Many farmers equip their cow barns with fans and sprinklers or mister systems. Tunnel barns are long buildings that have fans at each end to pull air through the barn and out the other end to keep temperatures cool. A free-stall barn provides cool shade during the summer and protection from the rain and elements. Cows can walk around the barn for exercise, get something to eat or drink, and then lie down in a bed whenever they want.
Barns can also be outfitted with large, automated brushes. This allows the cows to walk up and activate the rotating bristles to scratch their heads or bodies whenever they want.
Medical Care for Dairy Cows
Cattle care in the dairy industry also requires medical assistance. Dairy farmers work closely with their veterinarians who perform regular herd checks to make sure the cows are healthy. Depending on the herd size, a vet may visit monthly, weekly, or even daily.
Dairy Cows are Happy Cows
There are different breeds of dairy cattle in The United States, and they are all taken care of at the highest standards. Milking Shorthorns, Brown Swiss cows, and Holstein cows are common dairy breeds. Here at The Dairy Alliance, the health and welfare of our cows are our top priority.