Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

When we have visitors to the farm we often get the

question about how many times do we milk everyday.

Our cows are milked twice a day beginning at seven in the 

morning and seven at night. Between milking times, 

the cows are eating their balanced feed ration that is made available 

in the barn and pasture , drinking water and resting in the pasture.

All the procedures for both milking times are the same but

the evening milking does have a more calm atmosphere with

less people working outside,the setting of the sun and the cool of the

evening bringing a refreshment from the heat of the day.

I'm thankful for these dairy barn night lights

 that are a sign that the milking of cows 

continues  on our family farm 

                                                                                 and

                                              that even in the year of a health pandemic in
                                                   our communities and across our nation,
                                        dairy farm families like us are working day and night
                                                to provide nutritious, high-quality milk.

January Shows Off

January is showing off  with single digit temperatures for 

 multiple days and so far has just teased us with a skiff of snow.

It may be all that she can do!

There's not another layer I can add to keep warm and still fit 

into my coveralls so why shouldn't I taunt her?

Although the cows don't seem to be taking it as hard as the farmers,

we have unrolled large hay bales in the pastures for them to lay on, increased

 the amount of feed needed and made sure their water supply is not frozen.

This new baby and mother spent their first night inside

 the maternity barn for added protection from extreme cold.

                               
                                        Evaluating our cows comfort and providing what they
                                         need is an everyday  activity down on the dairy farm.

                                      Our commitment to providing high-quality milk begins
                                      with taking good care of our cows in spite of the weather!
                                           

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As I turned into the driveway late this afternoon, 

I saw this group of pregnant cows resting in the shade.

It was a perfect picture for the word content.

                                                     
                                   It was obvious the cows are enjoying the lower temperature
                                            and humidity for the first two days of August.
                                 
                                  Although I know these cooler temperatures are just a pause in
                                         our usual summer heat, I'm thankful for the comfort
                                                  provided for the cows and the farmers.

Dairy Q&A

Question: 

Is it painful for the dairy  cow when being milked?

Answer:

No.

Milking a cow actually provides relief from the pressure of being full of milk. 

The milking machine applies a very gentle pressure on each teat in an alternating pattern.

Although every dairy farm may have a different type of milking equipment, milking the cow provides relief and comfort for the cow. Dairy farmers make sure their cows in the milking herd  are milked at least  twice a day, the same time every day, everyday of the year.

Dairy Farm Snow Days

                           Snow days, like everyday  on the dairy farm, are filled with activities
                                           that focus on caring for our cows by making sure

 

they have plenty of nutritious food to eat,

 

 

fresh water to drink,

 

windbreaks for protection,

 

and

hay to lay on instead of snow.

 

Sunshine and warmer temperatures  were a welcome sight today for both farmers and cows!