Dairy Production

Objectives

A. Explain the importance of the dairy industry;

B. Define terms associated with dairy production

C. List 7 breeds of dairy cattle & their breed characteristics;

D. Label the internal and external parts of a dairy cow;

E. Breakdown the cycle of milk production;

F. Describe technologies used on the dairy and their importance; and

G. Evaluate a class of dairy cows and describe valuable traits.

MILK • U.S. daily milk production is ________

million gallons. • Youth across the nation drink ______%

of all milk consumed. • Milk is one of the ______ foods known

to man!

Objective A: Explain the importance of the dairy industry

50

46

oldest

CHEESE • WI Cheese production total is

________ billion pounds.

• 30% of the nations cheese production is __________

• 70% of mozzarella is used on

____________. A4

2.8

Mozzarella

Pizza

Why dairy? • Dairy foods are the richest source of

_________ a critical nutrient for everyone. • Dairy products contribute _____% of the

calcium available in the U.S. food supply. • 9 Essential Nutrients

– Calcium Vitamin D Protein – Potassium Phosphorus Riboflavin – Vitamin A Vitamin B12 Niacin

A6

Calcium

95%

Other assets…. • Disease Prevention

– Osteoporosis

– Hypertension

– Strokes

•Recent research shows – weight loss

advantages

A7

B: Define terms associated with dairy production

• Bovine: Cattle

• Calf: Young Bovine

• Bull: Male Bovine

• Steer: Castrated male bovine

• Heifer: Female bovine who has NOT delivered her first calf

• Cow: Female bovine who HAS delivered her first calf

• Colostrum: The first milk produced, rich in nutrients for newborn calf

• Freshen: To calve and begin giving milk

• Dry Cow: Cow no longer giving milk

C: List 7 breeds of dairy cattle & their breed characteristics;

1

2

3

4

5

6

Source: www.bonniemohr.com

B1

Jersey

Holstein: Black and White; Red and White

Guernsey

Brown Swiss

Milking

Shorthorn

Ayrshire

D: Label the major internal and external parts

of the dairy cow

Median Suspensory Ligament – supports

the udder

Alveoli – contain cells that produce the milk

Fine Membrane (Between quarters) – skin and ligaments that separates into 4 quarters – each quarter functions on its own

Outer Wall

Internal Parts: Mammary System

Milk Vein

Rear Udder Attachment

Fore Udder Attachment

Hooks Pins

Teats

Udder

Key External Parts

E. Breakdown the cycle of milk production

Heifer is bred and delivers a calf 9 months

later

Cow is placed in the milk herd where she stays for

12-18 months

When cow’s milk production declines, she

is bred again and “dried”

(stops producing milk)

Dry cow rests for a few months until she calves

again

Objective F:

Describe technologies used on the dairy and their importance

How far have we come?

Brainstorm some ideas…

1-Milking Machines and Parlors

C5

Hand milking milk ~6 cows an hour

Milking parlor with automatic machines can milk ~100 cows

an hour

2-Storage & Cooling

From the milk can to at least a 2500 gallon tank that automatically cools the milk.

1938 Bulk tanks begin to replace milk cans

C6

3-Artificial Insemination – Increases genetic

quality and diversity

– Today it’s used almost exclusively on ALL dairies. 4- TMR – Total

Mixed Rations – Important for good

health and high milk production

– Quality feed= high quality milk and lots of it C7

5- Record Keeping and Computers

• DHIA – Dairy Herd Improvement Association – Record keeping system for dairies

• Computer programs to better track animals: – Production – Pregnancy – Illnesses

C8

6-BST • What is BST?

– Bovine Somatotropin

– a naturally-occurring protein hormone (in humans too)

– Regulates milk production and growth in lactating dairy cows.

– Known about since 1936, but was hard to obtain prior to the 1980’s

– First biotechnological product approved for animal production • In 1994 Monsanto Company received approval for the

commercial marketing of bST with the trade name POSILAC®

C9

How does it work? • bST has 3 functions in a very specific order.

1- Bone Growth: if animal is not fully grown, it stimulates bone growth

2-Maintenance: If cow doesn’t have sufficient nutrition and body fat, bst will help add body condition

3-Milk Production: Once bone growth and maintenance are balanced, BST increases milk production.

C10a

Safety • Cows

– Cows supplemented with bST are healthy & have increased yields in milk

– Milk composition is unaffected

– Reproduction is unaffected

– Performance of calves born to cows treated with bST is excellent

• Humans – bST is a protein

hormone, not a steroid hormone

– bST does not alter the chemical composition in milk

– The U.S. FDA has approved human consumption of milk and meat from dairy cows supplemented with bST

C12

Why WOULD Dairy Producers use BST?

• Increased milk production = increased profits

Why would they NOT use BST? • Concerned about public perception

It is the CHOICE of the dairy producer

C13

Objective G:

Evaluate a class of dairy cows and describe valuable traits.

•General Appearance: -Style & Attractiveness -Straight back -Depth

•Mammary System -Udder – shape & attachment

-Teats – Size & placement

-Mammary Veins – Large, long & crooked

•Dairy Character -Body: Deep with great capacity and

spring of rib

-Rump: Long level with wide pin bone

-Femininity

Judge a class of Dairy Cows

1

2

3

4

1 2

3 4

Official Reasons

#1: Greatest depth of body and spring of rib. Most length from hooks to pins. Good clean dairy character.

#4: Less depth of body than #1. Close pair with #2, but places above due to greater length from hooks to pins.

#2: places below #4 because she has less spring of rib

#3: is an obvious bottom of the class. She has least amount of body depth and spring of rib.

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