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 mothers 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