Dairy Cattle Industry

• In the US dairy industry is about 11% of cash receipts
• Third behind poultry/ eggs
• Dairy Products in top 5 commodities in 38 of 50 states
• US produces 15% of world's milk
• Cull cows and steers produce 20-25% of consumed beef

• Use resources that humans cannot use
• Produce food that humans can use
• Predominately eat forage
• Dairy cows are most efficient animal of all domestic animals

• Milked across all seasons
• Producer can use own feeds
• often part of diversified farming program

• Condensed milk
• Mechanical Refrigeration
• Pasteurization
• Babcock Cream Test

• Pricing of milk by butterfat began in 1890
• Milking machinesin 1930

                First sold in glass bottles

                Paper cartons 1950

                Plastic Cartons 1964

• Vitamin D fortification in 1932

• Least concentrated enterprise
• Dairy cows found in every state in US

                 Perishable

• Number of cows decreased in 40 yrs
• Pounds of milk increased over last 50 yrs

1. California
2. Wisconsin
3. Idaho
4. New York
5. Pennsylvania
6. Minnesota
7. Texas
8. Michigan
9. New Mexico
10. Washington

• Small Operation

- Make up half or more of the dairies

- Family owned and operated

- 1-200 head of cattle

- Found in traditional dairy states (WI, MI)

- Still Diversified

• Large Operations

- Smaller number

-Family or corporation based

-500+ head of cattle

- Found in newly emerging states

- More specialized

Scoltland

Characteristics

• Pruebred only red and white offspring
• Spots usually jagged edged and small/scattered
• Red ranges mahogany to pale red
• Naturally horned

Breed qualities

• Hardiness
• Calves are vigorous
• preform better under pasture conditions

Don't have yellow tallow

Moderate butterfat

17,000 lbs milk

Switzerland

Characteristics

• Brown
• Dark head and shoulder
• large framed
• longer gestation
• docile
• hardy

Milk Production

• 20,000lbs/year
• average butterfat and protein

Isle of guernsey

Arrived in US 1840

Characteristics

• Red and white
• large patches of white
• moderate frame
• indermediate size
• lower calving interval
• excellent grazer
• handle warmer climates better

Milk Production

• 15,000 lbs per yr
• high butterfat/ high protein

Europe

Friesians

Characteristics

• Large frame cows
• mature cows - 1500 lbs
• Normal production
• largest volume
• 22.000 lbs yr
• Normal productive life 6 yrs

Island of Jersey

One of oldest dairy breeds

Arrived in 1850s

Characteristics

• very light grey to dark fawn
• head, hips, shoulders darker
• small to medium frame
• 800-1200 lbs
• refined head and shoulder
• long level topline
• deep bodied
• adaptable to various climates
• highest betterfat & protein
• 12,000 lbs per yr

England

One of oldest breeds

Arrived in US in 1783

Characteristics

• Red, Red & White, Roan, White
• Least common in US
• Most Versatile
• Docile Cow
• Calving ease
• Vigorous Calves
• 15,000 lbs year