The dairy industry is near and dear to my heart, so
I know firsthand the dedication, passion and commitment to excellence that
farmers have when it comes to farming and their animals. After all, it’s their
livelihood. Not to mention the right thing to do. I hope many of you had an
opportunity to meet a farmer or two as you strolled through the aisles of the
barns at the Indiana State Fair. You won’t find better people than farmers.
Have
you ever wondered how farmers care for their animals?
Nutrition.
Farmers work with animal nutritionists to formulate diets based on the animals’
nutritional needs. There is no one-size-fits-all ration and it changes
depending on age, life stage (stage of lactation, etc.), and other factors. Nutrition
is one of the most important factors influencing milk production, so this is an
important area.
Medical
Care. Veterinarians care for animals much like how
doctors care for people. They provide check-ups, vaccinations and treat animals
when they are sick.
Animal
Comfort. Happy animals are productive animals. California is
on to something when they talk about happy cows. Happy, comfortable cows
produce more milk. And milk equals money. Therefore, it is very important to
provide safe and comfortable living conditions for cows and all animals. On our
dairy, we had sprinklers over the feed alleys to cool cows off (and encourage
them to eat more feed), large fans in the free stalls to make their naps more
comfortable (cows spend a considerable amount of time lying down, so it is
important that they are as comfortable as possible!), and fans in the holding
pen to cool cows off as they waited their turn to be milked. Some farmers use
sand bedding and rubber matting to increase cow comfort. The take away message
here: animal comfort is very
important and farmers recognize this.
Housing.
Dairy cows are generally housed according to age. This makes it easier to
provide the best care for each group, as they all have different needs. A
second-lactation fresh cow (a cow that
just gave birth) has different needs than a growing 10-month-old heifer (female dairy animal who has not had a calf).
Dairy farmers separate cows and calves to provide the best individual care for
each. Calves receive colostrum (the first
milk after a cow calves) as soon as possible to jump start their immune
systems, and then receive milk for about two months. In the meantime, they are
slowly transitioned off of milk and onto hay and grain (called the weaning process). At the same time, the milk cows are
fed high-energy diets to provide for their lactation requirements. Milk
production requires a lot of energy!
Employees.
Whether farm employees are family members or not, they care for the animals
like they are their own. Working toward a common goal—whether that be high milk
production, excellent milk quality, etc.—always has a way of bringing people
together. Visiting with my favorite cows always made the work day a lot better.
And of course, who can be upset when you are surrounded by adorable calves?
Take
Home Message: Farmers depend on their animals for
their livelihoods and they provide the best care for them as possible.
