June Is Milk Month!
Did you know that one cow produces 6.5 gallons of milk per day? With an average of 9 million cows on U.S. farms, that equates to over 2100 gallons of milk annually, or an economic value of $34000 by each cow! Or, 22941 pounds of cow milk production each year in the States.
National Milk Month, now National Dairy Month, started in 1937 to promote the benefits of drinking milk. Now, the designated month pays tribute to dairy farmers across America to thank them for their hard work in producing milk for us all to drink and enjoy with our favorite breakfast foods.
Drinking milk, and using dairy in cooking/baking, is a great way to kick off the summer season for a number of reasons. For starters, milk is rich in calcium and potassium making it a must-have for athletes to reduce the risk of cramping during fitness activities. Dairy products help build a repair muscle tissues and help maintain healthy skin glow, as an added bonus. But, the benefits of milk products exceed beyond physical fitness. Women are encouraged to drink a lot of milk as they age to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Milk also reduces the risk of high blood pressure; osteoporosis in women and certain cancers.
Celebrate Dairy Producers
America's dairy farmers do their part to conserve land and protect landscapes. Not only do they conserve water and re-use waste, but they keep air clean by using their own air filtration systems. (And, you thought the job was just about milking cows.)
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Best Fence For Cattle Owners Electric Fence If rotational grazing occurs on the pasture, poly wire or poly tape can be used. Installers will need between 3-6 lines of fence wire. Space wire 10" -20 inches apart for best results using at least 1-2 wire fence systems. To safely contain beef cattle and cows, choose a fence energizer with at least 2000 volts along the fence line. To deter predatory animals, such as bears, voltage will need to be at a minimum of 5000 volts. Woven Wire Fence Livestock owners choose this type of metal fence to keep-in large livestock animals including bison and cattle and trust that it will protect animals because of its high tensile strength. Fixed Knot Woven Wire Fence is comprised of vertical strands of wire and line wires that are locked together to prevent shifting and sagging with a strong fixed knot. The sturdiness of this metal fence is evident in the reduced amount of posts required to hold the fence firm and straight—only one post need be placed every 20 feet on your fence line. You can expect your solid lock fence installation to last between 20-40 years.
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Why Become a Dairy Farmer?
1) Working at a dairy farm teaches new farmers about production agriculture and how to handle livestock.
2) You get to be your own boss - set your own hours and work at your pace.
3) Being a dairy cow farmer teaches you to respect the environment.
4) You'll learn to be a responsible worker as you care for animals and the farm.
5) You'll learn to multi-task and manage your time.
To become a successful milk cow farmer, you will need to milk cows at least three times a day and vaccinate the herd against diseases. You will also need to feed your milking cow and they eat a lot - about 100 pounds of daily feed (a combination of hay, grain, silage and proteins). Fencing is required to secure cattle on farms, too (see above for best cattle fence options).
If this sounds like you, then you are one step closer to starting a milk farm of your own. For now, let's give a round of applause to America's farmers (and of course the cows that provide us with milk for our cereal).