Dairy Cows
	Dairy Tour
	Dairy Processing
	Final Project
	Resources Student Teacher

Dairy Cows

"Hi, I'm Molly!  I'm a dairy cow at Promised Land Dairy.  A dairy farm is where cows are raised to be milked.  There are different kinds of dairy cows.  I'm a Jersey cow.  Read on and meet some of my friends and find out how we are milked."

	Jerseycows are the smallest of the major dairy breeds.  They weigh between 900 and 1000 pounds.  They have a short, broad face.  They range in color from gray to dark fawn (tan) or reddish-brown. Heat doesn't bother them.  They  produce 9441 pounds of milk a year which is less milk than the other breeds.  Their milk naturally contains more cream.
	Guernsey cows are slightly larger than Jersey cows. They have a long head and are tan and white in color.  They produce 10,316 pounds of milk a year which is a little more milk than Jerseys.  They rank second in cream production.
	Holstein cows are identified by their black and white color.  They are the largest dairy cows with broad hips and a long, deep body weighing 1500-1600 pounds.  They give 14,737 pounds of milk a year which is more milk than any other breed.  They produce the least amount of cream.
	Brown Swiss range in color from light or dark brown to brownish-gray with black nose, horn tips, and tail switch.  They are heavier boned and thicker skinned.  They produce 12,791 pounds of milk each year.  In the US they are dairy cows, but have a dual purpose in other countries.

Click on my picture for the Venn Diagram         Activity 1 (*PDF File) Print out the Venn Diagram and choose two dairy cows to compare and contrast. Click  to listen to the instructions.

Cotton seed	Soy meal	Citrus pulp	Distilled dried grain
Vitamins & minerals	Alfalfa hay	Wheat meds	Steamed flaked corn

1.  What is a cow's cud?
Cows chew their food two separate times to digest it.  After they chew and swallow, they bring it back up and chew it again.  This once swallowed food is called their cud.

2.  How many teeth do cows have?
Adult cows have 32 teeth.  They do not have cutting teeth.  They tear grass by moving their head.

3.  What is a dry cow?
One meaning for a dry cow is when the udder of a cow is empty after milking.  The other meaning is when a cow is not producing milk.

4.  Do cows have more than one stomach?

5.  Do all cows have horns?
No.  Some cows are born without horns and they are called polled cows.  Some farmers remove horns from other cows for safety.  The horns are removed when the calf is less than three weeks old.

6.  How many times are cows milked a day?
Most cows are milked every 12 hours, which is twice a day.  Some can be milked three times a day.

7.  How is milk measured?
Milk is measured in pounds, because farmers are paid for their milk by weight at creameries and receiving stations.  One gallon of milk weighs 8.6 pounds.

8.  How many years can a cow normally give milk?
Dairy cows normally give milk for 5 or 6 years, but some give milk at the age of 20 or older.

9.  When can a cow give milk?
A cow is able to produce milk once it has a calf.

10. Why don't most farmers milk cows by hand?
Most dairies have too many cows for the farmers to milk them by hand.  That is why machines are used.

11. Do all cows have the same size udder?
No.  Dairy cows naturally have larger udders than beef cows.  Beef cows produce milk only for their calves.

12.  How much food do cows eat in a day?

13.  How much water do cows drink in a day?

DairyTours

"It's me again, Molly. l'll be your tour guide.  Follow me to learn about me and where milk and milk products come from."

	"First,I have to be hosed off with water.  Then, I am cleaned with iodine and hosed off again.  I am cleaned this way each time before I am milked to make sure I am good and clean."
	"While I am being milked, I get to enjoy a good meal."
	"Can you see my milk veins near the udder?  This is how the farmers know I am ready to be milked."
	"Next,the milking machine is being attached to my udder."
	"Then the machine, which acts like a vacuum, takes the milk from my udder through the hose and into the large container."
	"Finally, when I am milked dry, I am hosed off with water and cleaned with iodine which is left on this time.  The iodine keeps me free of infection and insects."

Here at Promised Land you can try your hand at milking this cow.  If you can't visit the dairy, here is an activity you can try. . . Materials: rubber glove empty bucket water rubberband pin (to poke holes in glove) Procedure: Use the pin to poke one tiny hole in each fingertip of the empty glove (Do not put glove on your hand!) Fill the glove with water and secure the open top with the rubberband. Hold the filled glove over an empty bucket, squeeze the fingers of the glove, and pretend you are milking a cow.

Dairy      Processing

Click on my picture for the Ice Cream independent  sequencing activity...              Activity 2 (*PDF File)    Click  to listen to the instructions.

Click on my picture to find examples of flow charts that can be printed and filled out or you can create your own flow chart on Inspiration or poster board.                   Activity 3 (*PDF File)               Click  to listen to the instructions.