Dairy Q&A

Question: 

How long is a cow pregnant?

Answer: 

9 months

FYI: A pregnant dairy cow that is being milked will be removed from the milking herd at 7 months so she can rest, enjoy a special diet  and prepare for the birth of her calf. We commonly  call this the "dry" period. In human terms, this is maternity leave!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Fall harvest is always an amazing time on the dairy farm. I consider the perfect timing and coordination between the chopper operator and the truck driver to be a form of harvest art.

It does pay to stay alert at all times unless you want a cab full of chopped crop!

                                 I'm thankful for the opportunity to live on an Arkansas  dairy farm,
                                    raise crops for our cows to enjoy and work everyday with
                                            my family to produce wholesome,nutritious milk.

Celebrate Your Vote With Dairy

When the last ballot is cast, the polls are closed and we wait anxiously for the election returns,what better  time for a celebration of the election season!  No matter whether your candidate wins or loses, you can celebrate the greatness of America and the democratic process  that we often take for granted.

I'm going to include this special dairy dip in my election celebration. It was served to us last week by our special family friend Karla in Dallas. It's one of those recipes passed from friend to friend and doesn't require a lot of preparation time so you have more time for visiting and watching those election returns!

Karla's Dairy Dip

1 16 ounce cream    cheese,softened
1 can black beans, drained
1 can Rotel, drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix cream cheese, black beans, and Rotel; spread in 8 or 9 inch baking dish.
Cover with shredded cheese and bake in 350 degree oven until cheese is melted.

Serve with Pita chips or crackers.

                                                             Vote for dairy!

Cows and Clocks

 Our dairy  cows don't have to worry about  how to change the clock when Daylight Savings Time starts or stops because regardless if we're springing forward or falling back, they always have plenty of feed to eat, water to drink and a dairy farmer checking to make sure they are comfortable.

 It's the dairy farmers that have to adjust to the time change in scheduling chores and making sure everyone else  on the farm  understands the schedule!

                      One thing for sure,  cows don't need clocks to know when it's time to have a calf !
                                       That was obvious today--we had three new calves born.

What better way to celebrate the end of Daylight Savings Time--

3 new babies and an extra hour of sleep for the farmer!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Fall colors in late October  are usually limited to the trees, 

but you never know when Mother Nature may surprise us!

Old fashioned Iris, also known as "flags", are usually blooming in May but for some reason this yellow beauty is blooming like crazy this week.

                               I'm thankful for these unexpected surprises  that happen to remind me
                             that God is always in control and provides a blessing when unexpected!

Dairy Treats With Essential Nutrients

It's easy to get tricked into thinking that a lot of drinks we find in the dairy case at the grocery store  are as nutritious or economical as real dairy milk. For 25 cents per 8 ounces, milk treats you to nine essential nutrients. You're being tricked if you think the nutrition of alternative drinks offers you  and your family the same nutritional benefits.

According to Midwest Dairy, milk alternatives use fortification to mimic the nutrient profile of cow's milk.

Here's how some of the most common dairy alternatives stack up:

• Soy beverages--made from soybeans and are a good source of protein, but the soy protein is a lower quality protein than the whey protein found in dairy products.
• Rice-based beverages-- are generally processed from brown rice and are fortified with nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Rice beverages contain only one gram of protein compared to eight grams in cow's milk.
• Nut-based beverages-- can be ground from any nut, the most popular is almond. Almond beverages supply only one gram of protein per serving and lack many of the natural benefits found in almonds.

It's okay to get tricked on Halloween,

 but don't let it happen when you're making nutritional decisions!

Dairy Q&A

                                                                    Question:

    Why does a farmer use genetically modified (often referred to as GMO)  seed when planting a crop?

                                                                    Answer:
Farmers are always looking for ways to increase efficiency and protect the environment.  Genetically modified crops are more tolerant  of drought,are more resistant to disease and herbicides and allow farmers to increase yields on the same amount of land.

According to the Center for Food Integrity, more than 80 percent of grain crops used for animal feed, such as corn and soybeans are genetically modified. Extensive research has revealed no difference in the
nutritional value of GMO feed compared to conventional feed, there is no evidence that GMO  feed impacts growth or feed intake and it is safe.