MythBuster MONDAY!

Call me strange... but I have a little bit of a fetish for the History Channel and the Discovery Channel.  I truly enjoy shows such as "Modern Marvels" and "How Its Made."  Those show really give an inside to all the little things that go into making our world go 'round!  Today, I visited one of my favorite educational websites about dairy farming, Dairy Farming Today.

Today is "MythBuster" Monday, where I will share with you a common myth about dairy cows:

MYTH:  Today's dairy cow is treated like nothing more than a milk machine.
FACT:  Dairy cows must be healthy and well cared for in order to produce pure, wholesome milk.

Check out this website for a short clip about a dairy producer and a veterinarian's thoughts about this issue:  Dairy Farming Today - Myth:  Cows are Just Machines
Other bits of information......     

1. Farmers employ professional nutritionists to develop a scientifically formulated, balanced and nutritious diet for their cows. On our farm, the diet includes hay, corn silage, grains, protein sources, and vitamins and minerals. 
• Our nutritionist comes once a month to take samples of all the feed sources and put together a well-balanced ration (meal) for the cows.
2. Dairy cows receive regular veterinary care, including periodic check-ups, preventative vaccinations and prompt treatment of illness.  A good veterinarian is a great tool for a dairy farm.  Just like we get sick, cows get ill, also! 
• On our farm, we follow strict vaccination protocols to safeguard against illness.  Our veterinarian comes every two weeks to oversee the cow herd and the calves.
3. The dairy industry has in place a number of initiatives that demonstrate commitment to animal well-being. The National Dairy FARM Program™ is a nationwide, verifiable program that addresses animal well-being. Third-party verification ensures the validity and the integrity of the program to our customers and consumers. 
• A few weeks ago, we had an audit at the farm that looked into every aspect of our cows and how they are cared for.  The program is a great reminder of how important our job as dairy farmers is!
4. Dairy farmers depend on healthy cows for their livelihood.  Comfortable, healthy and well cared for cows produce milk.  It's as simple as that.  Keeping cows relaxed and happy everyday is a win:win for everyone!