Caring for our Cows
As a third generation dairy farmer, I have grown up around cows. I watched my dad care for a sick cow and make her feel better. I saw the excitement in his face when a complicated calving resulted in a healthy baby and a mama cow that hopped right up and started cleaning her calf. I cannot describe the feeling when you see that calf you have been checking on several times a day get up to eat and drink on its own. Do dairy farmers care about their animals? Yes.
Each day my family and I work hard to make sure our cows are happy, healthy and content. You might wonder why we do that? First, because it is the right thing to do. Yes, they make milk for us. That means we have a responsibility to take care of them.
We work closely with our veterinarian to keep our cows healthy, including preventing disease through things like vaccines. A clean home means healthy cows, which makes cleanliness a top priority, as well. Every day we clean their surroundings, including the barns and milking parlor.
We also strive to ensure they have access to feed (what we call cow food) that is healthy and perfectly balanced for them all the time. We work with a nutritionist (a cow dietitian) to create a diet that gives the cows everything they need in each bite they take. With the help of technology we make sure feed is always accessible to them.
On my family’s dairy farm we work hard to give the best care to our animals. We truly care for their welfare and wellbeing.
I never took into account that one could hire a nutritionist to figure out what their cows need to eat. My little brother is actually part of the FFA, so he’s been thinking of buying a cow or tow for milk. What are some foods that are essential for cows to be happy and healthy?