Thirsty Thursday: Are you lactose intolerant?

If I'm Lactose Intolerant, Should I Avoid Milk?

Not necessarily. Many individuals who have difficulty digesting lactose (milk's sugar) can consume a glass or two of milk a day with meals with few, if any, symptoms. Smaller portions of milk (4 oz) consumed more often may be better tolerated. Lactose-reduced or lactose-free milks are also an option. Lactose-reduced milk contains about 70% less lactose than regular milk. Lactose-free milk is 100% lactose reduced.

Thirsty Thursday: The Buzz on Chocolate Milk

What's the buzz on flavored milk? Research from the University of Vermont published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association confirms that flavored milk is a healthy beverage choice for kids and adults. The study evaluated data from USDA's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals to determine the typical beverage intake of nearly 4,000 children and adolescents, ages 5-17. Here's what it found:

• Results showed that children who drink flavored milk consume fewer nutrient-void soft drinks and fruit drinks (those containing less than 10 percent fruit juice) than children who don't drink flavored milk.
• The study also found that children who consume chocolate or other flavored milk have higher calcium intakes in comparison with children who do not consume flavored milk.
• Children who consume flavored milk did not have higher intakes of added sugars or total fat in their overall diet in comparison with children who do not consume flavored milk.
• Children who consume flavored milk had higher total milk intakes when compared to non-consumers of flavored milk.
• Previous research indicates that children and adolescents who are high consumers of soft drinks have lower intakes of riboflavin, folate, vitamins A and C, calcium and phosphorous.

Thirsty Thursday: How should milk be stored?

Source: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

Storing and Handling

Milk is perishable. To preserve its safety and quality, the following tips are recommended:

• Refrigerate milk at 40ºF or less as soon as possible after purchase and store in the original container.
• Return milk to the refrigerator immediately after pouring out the amount needed. Never return unused milk to the original container.
• Keep milk containers closed to prevent the absorption of other flavors. An absorbed flavor changes the taste, but the milk is still safe.
• Protect milk from exposure to strong light since light can reduce its riboflavin content and cause off-flavors.
• Look for the "sell by" or "pull" dates on milk cartons. If properly cared for, milk generally stays fresh for 2 to 3 days after this date. Some dairy processors guarantee their products for a specific time after this date. Ask your grocer for more details.
• Keep canned milks like evaporated and sweetened condensed milks in a cool dry place and invert the cans every 2 months. These milks generally keep for about a year at room temperature. Once opened, canned milks should be poured into an opaque covered container, refrigerated and used within a few days.
• Store dry milks in a cool, dry place and keep in an airtight container after opening. Once reconstituted, dry milk should be refrigerated and handled like other fluid milks.
• Freezing of milk is not recom-mended. It causes undesirable changes in milk's texture and appearance.
• Microwaving milk is not recommended to extend milk's shelf life or as a means of pasteurization.

What Makes a Cow Happy? My 4 Rules.

So what makes a cow happy?  Do you wonder that?  I am sure that you have seen the campaign ad that says  "Happy Cows Come from California" but what does that mean? 

Not only do happy cows come from California, but happy cows come from every state!  Minnesota, Iowa, Florida, Idaho.. you name it.  There are some happy cows there.

How do you define: "happy"?  For me, when I am laughing, I am pretty happy.  How about you?  How do you define happy for yourself?  Does money make you happy?  Do friends make you happy?  Do hobbies make you happy?  Happiness can be defined so many different ways for so many different people and animals.

In the dairy industry, we define a "happy cow" as a healthy, comfortable cow.  Many years of research by dairy scientists have helped dairy farmers around the world help make our cows more comfortable and healthy.  The research is still continuing and new management techniques and tools are developed yearly.

One thing that we as an industry has done is place a number of initiatives that demonstrate our commitment to animal well-being. In 2009, we launched the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program: http://www.nationaldairyfarm.com/, a nationwide, verifiable animal well-being program that demonstrates U.S. milk producers are committed to the highest quality standards.

So what is a healthy, comfortable cow and how do dairy producers do this?   Here are the top 5 rules:

#1:  Healthy Diets

• Today's dairy cows are under the supervision of the dairy nutritionist.  This person comes to the dairy, evaluates the feed, and formulates a scientific, balanced and nutritious diet for the cows.  Diets can contain a variety of feedstuffs including hay, corn silage, grains, protein sources and vitamins and minerals.  I would love my own nutritionist... maybe I wouldnt eat so many cookies! :)
• Dairy farmers work hard throughout the year to harvest the feed for the cows.  It is very important that feed is harvesting in a timely manner to ensure freshness and quality.
• Here is a video of a dairy harvesting haylage:
• Another important part of a cow's diet is WATER.  Cows should have access to feed and fresh, clean water 24 hours a day.  A cow drinks a BATHTUB of water a day!  Water is a very important part of her diet.

#2:  Comfortable Housing

• There are many types of "houses" for cows you may see driving in rural America. 

#3:  Routine Medical Care:

• Dairy cows are under the direct supervision of a herd veterinarian.  This individual is in charge of periodic check-ups, preventative vaccines and prompt treatment of illness.  The veterinarian is a very important person on a dairy farm.
• Cows recieve routine "pedicures" by a professional hooftrimmer.  A cow will normally receive a pedicure once or twice a year to attend to the extra hoof growth.  Can you imagine if you didnt clip your toenails?  Cows need toenail clipping too!
• Want to see a cow pedicure?  Watch a video about Olive getting a pedi.  Unfortunately she did not get a design on her toe like I do! haha :)

#4:  Cow Care and Monitoring

• The most important job of a dairy farmer it to daily monitor their cows.  Cows are observed daily.  You may wonder... what are they looking for?  Here are some of the things we monitor:
• cud chewing
• laying time
• Fresh cows - It is very important to monitor these ladies very closely.  Just like a woman in the hospital after giving birth, cows are in a hospital pen where they are checked multiple times a day to ensure that no complications arise.
• Here is a video about a cow that gets "milk fever."  Milk fever usually happens a few hours after she has her calf and her body is low in calcium. 

If your house runs out of milk you need to try this free ap for droid devices!

There is nothing worse then being in the middle of a cookie and milk craving only to walk to the fridge and find the horrific surprise THAT YOU ARE OUT OF MILK!!!!!  Now you will never run short of Milk or eggs or any other grocery for that matter with the new FREE Out of Milk Ap for those Fancy "droid phones". 

Grab your FREE Out of Milk Ap for Android devices & you will never leave home without your grocery list!
Use the Out Of Milk App to:

• Create multiple shopping and to-do Lists
• Scan or manually enter items in your Shopping Lists
• Add items to your list vocally or from your list history
• Keep an inventory of anything so you always know what’s in your pantry
• Share lists with your friends via the social networking apps on your phone

The tale of the new cow "tails" lady!

This blog is most definitely a team effort made up of a group of folks very excited about dairy cows and committed to the dairy industry!  As you follow our blog you will not only learn about cows, farms, dairy productions, dairy and dairy products facts, but also about the authors or the "cow girls" who make this blog go!  Today you get to meet me - Sarah!

"Addy the Cow" from Sheboygan and I at the Brown County Fair 2011

Original Hometown:  Door County, WI
Current Hometown:  Luxemburg, WI
Current Relation to the Dairy Industry: Dairy Sales in NE Wisconsin & promoting our great industry!

Why cows?
They are amazing!  Not only do they provide us a great source of nutrition they also provide enrichment of many different kinds!  In my case, cows are what helped to grow and create my leadership skills, my work ethic and my lifestyle as cows are my career!  Without the farm and cows coming into my life, who know where I would be today!  Now I have the pleasure of working with tons of great dairy producers, and tons and tons of cows on a yearly basis (and they even pay me to have all that fun!)

What to expect!
I am out and about in North Eastern Wisconsin on a daily basis and I a now carry my camera every where I go to document those "cool cow" moments!  Follow along with the blog to see some of these unique moments as captured on film - and soon to be video (I am still trying to master that skill!).  From time to time I have other "cow crazy friends" who will be joining the blog to share some of their stories!

Thirsty Thursday: What's up with flavored milk?

Is flavored milk as nutritious as white milk?
Yes, flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk. Flavored milk provides calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and niacin. In comparison, beverages like soda and fruit drinks provide little more than calories and sugar.

Is flavored milk packed with sugar, which is associated with hyperactivity?
A soda or fruit drink contain nearly twice as much sugar as flavored milk. Furthermore, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food and Drug Administration have found no link between sugar and behavioral problems in children.

Is flavored milk high in fat and calories?
Flavored milk comes in many varieties, including reduced fat, lowfat and fat free. For example, a 1 cup serving of lowfat flavored milk has only 2.5 grams of fat per serving, the exact amount as in white milk.

Does flavored milk cause cavities?
The ingredients in chocolate milk are much less likely to cause cavities than soft drinks and sticky snack foods. Liquids such as flavored milk clear the mouth faster. Some studies suggest that the cocoa in chocolate milk may actually protect against cavities.

Is chocolate milk high in caffeine?
No. The amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is similar to the amount found in decaffeinated drinks. An 8-ounce serving of chocolate milk contains between 2 mg and 7 mg of caffeine. Cola, on the other hand, may contain up to 10 times more caffeine than chocolate milk. According to recent evidence, the amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is too small to have a detrimental effect on a child's behavior.

Isn't flavored milk just for kids?
Absolutely not! Flavored milk is a great way to satisfy that sweet tooth while increasing your intake of calcium and eight other essential nutrients.

Dairy Sign "Language" at a Wayside

I found this sign while on a quick pit stop in southern Brown County / Northern Manitowoc County at the wayside / rest stop of Hwy 43!  I have stopped there a zillion times and just noticed it today and had to share it with all of you blog followers!  Check it out the next time you are in the area!  Have you seen any sings like this anywhere else?

Celebrating with Cheese!

Every year as my daughter's birthday month approaches the discussions begin about where the party will be, what it's theme will be, and what type of decorations we will have. Now I am a very creative mom and always try to think out side the box and come up with something new but this is even better then what I could have thought up!

Imagine this..... "A Very Dairy Party"
The theme - Cows
The Decorations- Cows and cow spots of course
The Purpose of celebrations - Any event!
The Goal - To provide entertainment and awe while promoting wholesome dairy products!
The centerpiece - A 925 pound sculpture made from cheese! That's right folks, check these sculptures out!

That's right my fellow cheese lovers - A half of ton + of cheese is what the Wisconsin state fair had crafted into an amazing sculpture by "The Cheese Lady" (AKA Sarah Kaufmann). A Wisconsin native and graduate of UW Madison, "The Cheese Lady" travels the country carving these amazing sculptures from Cheese! The 2011 Wisconsin State fair sculpture (top picture) put her in the Guineas Book of world records for the largest cheese carving! She started this record breaking sculpture with a 1000+ block of cheese from a small cheese factory in Kiel, WI called Hennings Cheese. They are the last cheese company that still makes "Mammoth Cheese Wheels" that weigh between 150 and 12,000 pounds! It was no surprise that the record winning sculpture started as one of these mammoth blocks!

Ok - Back to reality of my birthday party planning! It's not too likely that I will be able to have Sarah the Cheese Lady come to my house and carve a giant birthday cake for the special event, but here are some great ideas on how Wisconsin Cheese the life of the party!

For the kids - String cheese and cheese curds are always a hit with kids of all ages. If your in a pinch cube up whatever type of cheese you have in the house in serve in snack size bags, or on a fun platter with small pretzel sticks to serve them!

Football Parties - Serve up your favorite cheeses on a platter, with crackers, or even just a bag of cheese curds! (A bag of cheese curds makes a great last minute dish to pass on your way to the party). Or try one of the recipes from the Wisconsin Dairy Council web site like this one for Individual Fritos Pies - Wisconsin Style http://media.eatwisconsincheese.com/recipes/article.aspx?rid=1629

Why party with Cheese?

Dairy & Weightloss - 3 a day of dairy as part of a reduced calorie weight loss plan can help adults achieve better weight loss results!

Dairy & Stronger Bones - 3 a day of Dairy is a deliciously easy way to help build stronger bones and healthier bodies!

It's TASTY!

So the next time you are planning a party, looking for a snack, or happen to have a half ton block of cheese sitting around, turn to cheese to make it the best party ever!

Read the full story of the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese sculpture here!

The Cheese Lady

Fall Harvest - How to stay safe on the roads!

As the calendar quickly flips through the days of September, we are about to see a lot more then just fall colors as you're out and about on the roads! Our area farms are going to be working frantically to harvest their corn crop & to plow and fertilize their land to prepare for next years season. This means we will once again see more farm equipment on our county and rural road ways. Here are some tips and facts to remember when you are approaching farm equipment on the road.





1. Slow tractors and faster cars means the amount of time it takes for the two to meet each other happens VERY quickly!







2. Farm machinery operates differently then your car or truck! It is not very maneuverable!

3. Top 3 differences between the way a car handles and a tractor.

* Speed - (Most are less then 25 mph) Some new "hi speed" tractors can reach 40 mph
* Turning - (Watch for wide turns, look ahead for farms or field entrances they may use.)
* Braking

4. The tractor driver may not be able to see you! Sometimes the equipment they are hauling blocks their view of cars coming up behind them! You can keep your distance to assure the driver can see your car in the tractors mirrors!

5. Watch the tractor's road position! This is often a clue to tell you what direction they will be turning. If the tractor driver seems to be "hogging the road" or "driving almost on the wrong side" chances are they are trying to tell the cars behind them they are about to turn!

6. The equipment is often much wider then the road it is traveling and will have to use the road's shoulder or even the ditch to make room for you to pass! (If you are every wondering why they are not pulling over to let you pass, chances are there is something on the side of the road preventing them to move over!)

Here is a video of a farmer in Tennessee who has some more first hand tips on how to share the road safely with tractors. You even get to "take a ride" in a tractor! Hopefully these tips will help you stay safe on the roads this fall as well as help our farming friends do the same! Happy driving and remember that every time you see a tractor on the road it is heading to a field to prepare food for their cows for another entire year!

Check out how Julia loves chocolate milk!

One thing you can always count on.... CHANGE

Dear friends and followers:

Due to some recent changes, I am unable to continue my favorite new hobby, this blog! No worries though... It will live forever!! :) Although I will not be the editor, new and exciting things will be posted weekly by a friend of mine that loves the dairy industry just as much as I do. I appreciate the support and hope you have learned something about our beautiful bovines and the safe, healthy, and nutritious milk that they produce.

Do me ONE favor though -- Comment, Ask & Inquire! Always ask.

The website for the blog has changed slightly: www.dairycowtails.blogspot.com

Like the facebook page: Cow "Tails"

Send an email to: dairycowtails@gmail.com

I will still be posting some videos of my creatures on facebook and youtube (youtube channel

Thirsty Thursday: Processing Terms Explained

I am back on schedule -- for a little bit.  Its Thirsty Thursday... all about MILK!

From the my dairy to you, milk goes through strict quality controls to ensure freshness, purity and great taste.  Milking equipment delivers milk directly from the cows to a refrigerated holding tank to preserve freshness and safety.  Then, the milk is quickly transported by truck to processing plants for continued freshness and safety.  But what happens there?  Pasteurization -- Homogenization -- Fortified?

What's the difference??  Every wonder what these terms mean?

• What Is Pasteurization?
  This is the process of heating raw milk at a high enough temperature for a sufficient length of time to make milk bacteriologically safe and increase its keeping quality. Most milk sold in the U.S. is pasteurized. All milk intended for direct consumption should be pasteurized - it's a matter of food safety.
• Since its introduction over a century ago, pasteurization has been recognized around the world as an essential tool for ensuring milk and dairy products are safe. 
• The dairy industry, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that no one consumer unpastuerized milk.
• Pasteurization is a simple, effective method to kill potentially harmful bacteria.  It does not affect the nutritional value of milk.
• According to health experts, pasteurized milk offers the same health benefits as raw milk, without the risks.
• What Is Ultrapasteurization?
  Milk that is ultrapasteurized has been heated to a higher temperature than pasteurized milk. Ultrapasteurized milk stays fresher longer under refrigeration than pasteurized milk. This process is often used for cream and eggnog.
• How Does UHT or Ultra High Temperature Milk Differ from Ultrapasteurized Milk?
  The major difference is that UHT milk is packaged in sterilized containers. UHT milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 months. Once opened, it should be refrigerated.
• Why Is Milk Homogenized?
  Homogenization breaks up and disperses milk fat throughout milk, resulting in a smooth, uniform texture. Most whole milk is homogenized to prevent the cream from rising to the top. Homogenization results in a softer curd in the stomach that aids digestion.
• Why Are Some Milks Fortified?
  Because few foods, including milk, naturally contain vitamin D, this vitamin is added to 98% of fluid milk marketed in the U.S. Because vitamin A is removed with the milk fat, this vitamin is added to 2% reduced-fat, 1% lowfat and fatfree milks. If vitamin D and/or A is added to any dairy product, it must be indicated on the label. Nonfat milk solids may be added to some fat-free milks to improve their appearance, flavor and nutritive value. The milk must be labeled Protein Fortified or Fortified with Protein. The addition of nonfat milk solids increases the calories from protein and carbohydrate and adds more calcium. Some milks may be fortified with calcium. If so, this must be indicated on the label.

Allie gets a haircut! Clipping Cows!

Clipping cows:  What does that mean??  A haircut of course! 

There are a few reasons for a cow haircut:

1. Grooming - It's nice to clip a cow in the spring to get her thick winter hair off.
2. Looks - A cow may get clipped for a show or to show her off to visitors.  A clipped cow makes her look more attractive.
3. Both!

Clipping a cow is just like shaving a dog, except with bigger clippers.  It would take forever to clip a cow with pet clippers.  The clipping process is not painful for the cow at all.  To make sure it is a safe process for both the cow and myself, I like to put them in a "clipping chute."  The chute ensures that the cow stays in one spot AND gives me the flexibility to get every angle.  It also gives the cow the flexibility to drink water and eat during the process.

Clipping is not necessarily fun for the "clipper." Hahah.  Usually when I'm finished, I am covered in hair.. in MY hair, in my nose, and down my shirt!  Definately need a shower afterwards.  The worst is when its really hot and humid.  Yikes! 

Here is a video of one of our cows, Allie, and the haircut process! I clipped her in April to get her winter hair off.



Plans this weekend? See Wisconsin's largest dairy - UP CLOSE!

Sunday, June 26th is the Fond du Lac County breakfast on the farm.

Why is this special?  This year it is going to be at the largest dairy in Wisconsin.  At this dairy, they milk 8400 cows that produce 78,000 gallons of milk a day!!
What a great opportunity to see what a modern and the largest dairy in Wisconsin looks like!! I have toured the dairy before but will definately but taking advantage of this great opportunity on Sunday.  You should too. 

I always like watching the cows go around on the "carousel" where they get milked.  They LOVE to ride the moving milking machine and cannot wait to get on.

Date:  6/26/2011

Time:  8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location:  Rosendale Dairy

Address:  N8997 County Highway M, Pickett, WI, 54964-8925

Directions:  All traffic will enter the parking from the south. Traffic will follow Hwy 23 to Hwy M - North. Ample parking will be available at the farm - rain or shine!

Activities:  See Wisconsin's Largest Dairy Farm - UP CLOSE and PERSONAL! Farm Tours, educational displays, Money Raffle, Kiddie Tractor Pull, Petting Zoo

Additional Information:  More information and a map can be found at www.fdlac.com.

Cost:- Adults - $6 in advance; $7 at the door

           Children - Five and Under FREE

Website:  Rosendale Dairy
Here are a few videos about the dairy.

So what do the labels really mean???

Who likes to go grocery shopping?? (not me)

Well... today we are going to the grocery store.  Let's pick.. you guessed it - "Super" Walmart! (just an example).  How about we get some personal hygiene things first.  You need shampoo.  There you are... staring at the 100's of kinds of shampoo and conditioner.  Dandruff, volume, color, curl, expensive, cheap - how do you choose?  It's the same way buying toothpaste!! Can't there just be a bottle of shampoo that says, "shampoo" and thats it?  Marketing departments for that company truly have to try and differentiate their products so that people will buy.  Some will be bright colored, some will have "tag lines" or "sayings" and some -- this is the one that gets me -- smell good... yummmm.....

Is this you?

Ok, we have the shampoo smelling out of our system.  Next on the list, MILK! :)  The dairy case can sometimes be just as confusing.  There are many labels that appear on milk packages.  How do you know what the labels all mean?  How do you know what to buy?  Be assured that regardless of these different labels, all milk is SAFE and HEALTHY.

Your milk is produced by thousands of dairy farm families across the United States.  These dairy families work hard every day to improve the quality of care for their animals, and in return, they improve the quality of milk available to you and the grocery store.

Let's dig a little deeper into these labels:

HORMONE-FREE:  All milk produced by dairy cows contains trace amount of hormones.  This is NATURAL … a part of their normal biology of lactation and reproduction.

*Bottom line:  All milk contains trace amounts of hormones naturally.

ANTIBIOTIC-FREE:  Dairy producers and processors test all milk every day of the year to ensure that ALL milk in your dairy case is free from antibiotics.  In fact, over 5 million tests are administered annually by the dairy industry to test for antibiotics. 

Dairy cows sometimes get sick and need medical attention in order to get better.  In some cases, an antibiotic is prescribed.  Cows treated with antibiotics are given extra special care and their milk is discarded until they are healthy and their milk is free from antibiotics.

On our dairy, when a cow is treated with antibiotics she is identified as “treated” and her milk is separated from the rest of the cows and dumped down the drain.  Here is an example:  Cow #184 just had a little heifer calf on Friday.  (don’t get woosey… this is kind of gross) Sometimes after a cow gives birth, she does not expel the placenta, or “cleanings” as we call it in the farm world.  This is a situation.  If not dealt with, those “cleanings” will become toxic inside the cow and her life is on the line.  Today, #184 was treated with antibiotics.   She is now labeled as a “treated cow” and her milk will be separated from the rest of the cows and dumped right down the drain.  Her milk will continue to go down the drain until the FDA designated milk withhold time period has passed.  Before she can “go into the tank” her milk will have to be tested to make sure it is free of antibiotic residues.  Let’s say #184’s milk gets mixed in before being tested…….. what happens????? THE WHOLE BULK TANK IS DUMPED DOWN THE DRAIN.  Trust me – this is NOT a good day.  For us, that would be about 10,000# of milk. Yikes.

*Bottom line:  All milk is free from antibiotics.

rbST-FREE:  Bovine somatotropin (bST) is a naturally occurring protein hormone in cows.  The purpose of bST is to coordinate nutrient use by the cow to keep her healthy and support milk production.  The synthetic version of bST, known as rbST, is made using the same technology used to make insulin for diabetics.  Use of rbST by dairy producers helps them to produce enough nutritious wholesome milk to keep milk affordable while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Since rbST was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in the early 1990s, its safety has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the scientific community.  Scientists tell us that bST is species-limited, meaning that it is BIOLOGICALLY INACTIVE in humans.

Dairy producers continue to meet the food and nutritional needs of our growing population by using safe technologies such as this.

More milk, fewer cows, smaller footprint.

·         LESS land is needed to raise feed for the cows

·         LESS water is needed for irrigation because fewer crops are needed

·         FEWER greenhouse gasses are emitted

·         LESS fuel is required for dairy operations and to cultivate, grow and harvest crops

·         LESS manure is generated from cows for the same amount of milk

If you would like more information on this subject, visit: Global Dairy Innovation

 *Bottom line:  Regardless of whether rbST is used on the farm, the levels of bST in milk are the same.  All milk is safe and all milk is healthy.

PASTEURIZED:  Pasteurization is a simple, effective technique to kill bacteria without affecting taste or nutritional value of milk.  All milk intended to direct consumption should be pasteurized – it’s a matter of food safety. 

*Bottom line:  This is done to ensure all milk is safe and healthy for us to drink. 

ORGANIC:  In order for milk to be labeled organic, it must come from farms that meet certain on-farm requirements, including no use of antibiotics to treat sick animals, no supplemental hormones and no use of commercial fertilizers.  While on-farm practices vary between organic and regular milk, they are equally nutritious and wholesome.

*Bottom line:  The ADA has declared that conventionally-produced products are just as safe and just as nutritious as organically-produced food.

I hope this kind of helped clear up the mud.  What other labels do you see? 

June Dairy Month: Farm-Made Energy

MythBuster MONDAY: Dairy products taste good, but should not be an essential part of every meal

FALSO! 

Recent news -- Do you remember the good ole' food pyramid?  It has now been revamped and is in the shape of a plate.  The shape may have shifted from a pyramid to plate, but the message remains the same:  dairy is an important part of the daily diet, for adults and children alike.  The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) released this new model earlier this month.

What foods are included in the dairy group?
All fluid milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group.  Most Dairy Group Choices should be fat-free or low-fat.  Foods made from milk that retain their calcium content are part of the group. 

What foods are not included in the dairy group?
Foods made from milk that have little to no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream , and butter, are not. 

How much food from the daily group is needed daily?

Daily recommendation
Children		2-3 years old		2 cups
		4-8 years old		2 ½ cups
Girls		9-13 years old		3 cups
		14-18 years old		3 cups
Boys		9-13 years old		3 cups
		14-18 years old		3 cups
Women		19-30 years old		3 cups
		31-50 years old		3 cups
		51+ years old		3 cups
Men		19-30 years old		3 cups
		31-50 years old		3 cups
		51+ years old		3 cups

What counts as a cup?

		Amount that counts as 1 cup in the Dairy Group		Common portions and cup equivalents
Milk [choose fat-free or low-fat milk]		1 cup milk or calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) 1 half-pint container milk or soymilk ½ cup evaporated milk
Yogurt [choose fat-free or low-fat yogurt]		1 regular container (8 fluid ounces)		1 small container (6 ounces) = ¾ cup
		1 cup yogurt		1 snack size container (4 ounces) = ½ cup
Cheese [choose reduced-fat or low-fat yogurt]		1 ½ ounces hard cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Parmesan) 1/3 cup shredded cheese		1 slice of hard cheese is equivalent to ½ cup milk
		2 ounces processed cheese (American) ½ cup ricotta cheese		1 slice of processed cheese is equivalent to 1/3 cup milk
		2 cups cottage cheese		½ cup cottage cheese is equivalent to ¼ cup milk
Milk-based desserts [choose fat-free or low-fat types]		1 cup pudding made with milk 1 cup frozen yogurt
		1 ½ cups ice cream		1 scoop ice cream is equivalent to 1/3 cup milk
Soymilk		1 cup calcium-fortified soymilk

Tips for making wise choices in the dairy group:

• Include milk or calcium-fortified soymilk as a beverage at meals. Choose fat-free or low-fat milk.
• If you usually drink whole milk, switch gradually to fat-free milk, to lower saturated fat and calories. Try reduced fat (2%), then low-fat (1%), and finally fat-free (skim).
• If you drink cappuccinos or lattes — ask for them with fat-free (skim) milk.
• Add fat-free or low-fat milk instead of water to oatmeal and hot cereals.
• Use fat-free or low-fat milk when making condensed cream soups (such as cream of tomato).
• Have fat-free or low-fat yogurt as a snack.
• Make a dip for fruits or vegetables from yogurt.
• Make fruit-yogurt smoothies in the blender.
• For dessert, make chocolate or butterscotch pudding with fat-free or low-fat milk.
• Top cut-up fruit with flavored yogurt for a quick dessert.
• Top casseroles, soups, stews, or vegetables with shredded reduced-fat or low-fat cheese.
• Top a baked potato with fat-free or low-fat yogurt.

Want to learn more about the new model?  Visit "Choose my Plate" for more information.

June Dairy Month: Dairy's Community Contribution

Hay! What did you do this weekend?

Well.... we "made hay"! 

Our cows are fed a very specific and well balanced ration.  High quality ALFALFA is an important part of that diet.  A field of alfalfa is usually made into hay or haylage.  Hay is in a much dryer form and is stored as a small bale or a big bale.  Haylage has a higher moisture level, is chopped into a particle size of a few inches, and is stored in bunkers, silos, or bags.  A big part of any dairy farmer's summer is preparing and storing the feed that the cows will eat all throughout the year. 

Well, so what?  Big deal.  It is a big deal!  How and when you make your haylage in the summer can determine the milk production and health of your cows throughout the whole year!  It has to be cut at a certain time in the maturation process - it cant be too "young" or too "old" or the vitamin, nutrient, and energy levels will not be ideal.  Its kind of like harvesting your garden.  Think of strawberries -- you cant pick them too soon or too late, or they wont be good. And, hopefully this lines up with our friend the sun - which needs to shine for a few days!!  Most of the time we are done with hay by the end of May, but because of all the rain we havent been able to get into the fields.  Usually we get 3 or 4 "crops" or harvests off of our alfalfa fields.  28 days after each crop the field can be harvested again.

For "1st crop," we are going to be chopping all of our hay and storing it in large, white bags.  It's quite a process, and involves a lot of team-work and cooperation.  Here are the basics of chopping hay on our dairy:

1. First, we cut the hay with a discbine.  This machine cuts the alfalfa and places it into thinner "rows."

2. Second, after the sun has dried the hay a bit, we merge or rake the rows together.

3.  Next, the chopper will pick up the hay and chop it into smaller particles.  An "arm" on the chopper will move the "haylage" into a wagon that will take it back to the farm.

4.  Finally, the wagon will drive the haylage to the farm to be "bagged."  The haylage will be placed into a long white bag, which is vaccuum sealed to ensure that it will not spoil.

Here is a video that I put together of ALL the steps of making hay.

MythBuster MONDAY: Baby calves are mistreated and don’t receive proper attention.

Fact: To help protect calves, dairy farmers place the animals in clean, dry, individual pens shortly after birth to control their environment, administer proper nutrition and vaccinations, and get them off to a healthy start.

First and foremost, the future of any dairy herd depends on the health of their newborn calves.   I believe that the care of baby calves is one of the most important jobs on a dairy farm.  On our dairy, another employee and myself are the primary caretakers of the babies.  It's quite the responsibility... let me tell you! 

After the calf is delivered safely, it is transported to a clean, dry, individual pen.  Within 6 hours, the calf is administered its vaccinations, the navel is dipped with Iodine (to dry it out and prevent infection), and then is bottle-fed colostrum.  Colostrum is their mother's, "first milk", and is powerpacked with vitamins, nutrients, and antibodies that set the calf's health up for life.  We bottle feed the calves to make sure that it receives the proper amount of colostrum.  This is really the most important step -- I can always pick out a calf that did not receive its colostrum on a timely basis because it will get sick more often than others.   

We feed our calves milk twice a day. The calf drinks out of a bottle for the first few days and then will transition to drinking out of a bucket.   They are also offered warm water throughout the year.   Calves are checked 4-5 times during a day and are regularly monitored by our veterinarian.

Pic of one of the little ones drinking from her bucket

Here is a video of a litte Jersey (about two weeks old) drinking her milk out of a bucket.  Jerseys are interesting little creatures and have quite the personalities.  This Jersey enjoys playing in the milk and playing with her bucket! It usually takes her twice as long as the Holstein calves to finish her milk.

June Dairy Month: Wisconsin - the BIG cheese!

Cows on the Concourse!!!

If you are looking to take a closer look at dairy without going to a farm.... go to Cows on the Concourse tomorrow in Madison!  Why not check out the farmers market AND celebrate June Dairy Month at the same time!

You can enjoy grilled cheese, coloring contests, "moooo-ing" contests AND get to meet a bunch of dairy cows!

Here is a video from my friend Laura with her cow, Ginger, regarding Cows on the Concourse.

Its a great time for everyone!! :)

Do me a favor, and ask the dairy farmers a lot of questions.  Ask them how they care for their cows... and what their favorite part about being a dairy farmer is!

June FunFact:

Did you know? 

99% of Wisconsin dairy farms are family owned!

Although some dairy farms have multiple employees, the vast majority of dairy farms are owned by families.   Dairy farms are very dynamic and need various talents from family members.  Most times, each family member has a portion of the dairy that they manage.  For example, the owner's son may manage the milking parlor because he is an excellent communicator and teacher.  Another family member might have excellent animal husbandry skills and take care of the baby calves.

June Dairy Month Kickoff!!!

Looking for more ways to experience the dairy difference? Join us at one of our dairy farm breakfast events where you'll get the opportunity to learn firsthand what makes Wisconsin dairy products so special.

Visit The Dairy Difference and check out the "Farm Breakfast Locator" to see where and when the dairy breakfasts are held in Wisconsin.  Its a exciting opportunity to spend some real time on a dairy farm and get a first hand look at Wisconsin's signature dairy industry. 

I LOVE June Dairy Month!  Especially the dairy breakfasts... chocolate milk, string cheese, ice cream.. yummmmmmmm!!! 

Im pretty excited to go to the largest dairy farm in Wisconsin, Rosendale Dairy, on June 26th in Rosendale, WI.  At this dairy, they milk 8400 cows and produce 78,000 gallons of milk a day.  Yowsers!! Here is the website for the dairy, Rosendale Dairy.

Will you be visiting a dairy farm near you?  I hope so!

Moving calves! It's kind of like the first day of kindergarden!

What happens to calves AFTER the calf hutches?  Well.... they get moved to their new pen in the heifer barn.  As you can see, "Princess" has been eating her Wheaties and now is way tooo big for her hutch.  Her diet is a complete calf starter, cold water, and a little bit of soft hay.  Transitioning calves from the hutch to their "group pens" is somewhat of an art.  It is essential that the transition is very smooth or she will get sick.  At a few weeks of age, I dehorned "Princess" and a few weeks ago she got her vaccinations.  I like to break it up into sections so there is not too much "going on" at once for her.  The weather is great and I'm sure she will do just fine. :)

Today, I will be moving 9 calves from their hutches to the heifer barn.  The barn is split into groups of 10.  The calves will stay with their group of 10 until about a year and a half.  Why?  Calves and cows like to do things in groups.  Here is the pen that these 9 calves will go into.  There is clean bedding, fresh water, and a constant supply of hay.  They also get a little grain each morning to ensure a well balanced diet. 



Moving them is a two person job!  hahah.  We use a halter to guide them to where we want them to go.  Im sure its pretty funny to watch -- two people running after a calf in the driveway! :)  Some calves are more difficult than others.  It only took us 15 minutes and we had them all in their new spot.  Definately sweaty! 

Here is a video of the critters before after we moved them.  Its quite entertaining to watch. Its kind of like the first day of kindergarden.  "Mom.... This is fun!  Mom.. Im scared.  Mom... baaaaa! Mom.. he smells...." Oh I remember kindergarden.  I got yelled at my first day because I went in the wrong door. :(

I will keep close eye on them for a week or so to make sure they transition well. 

Thirsty Thursday: Milk a cow ONLINE!

I'm sure many of you have never milked a cow before.  Go online and play this game that walks through the steps of milking a cow.  How many gallons did you get in a minute?  I got 16! :)

Interactive Game - Milking a cow!

Then see how it goes from the cow to your grocery store!

PS - a little addicting! Yikes!

So... cows get pedicures?

TRUE!  Cows get pedicures!  Well.  Kind of.  They dont get to sit and look at Cosmopolitan magazine while a professional rubs their legs, trims their toenails, and paints a design on their toes.  :)  Not saying I do that... ok maybe I do.. dont tell....

But cows do get their toenails trimmed.  As you can imagine, you need a pretty big toenail clipper.  The trimmer doesnt use a supersized toenail clipper, he uses a grinder to slowly trim the toes.  We trim our cows twice a year.  If we didn't, their toes would be crazy long!  When a cow has long toes, she has problems walking and it is very painful for her.

First, the cow walks into the chute.  Then a door closes behind her and two rubber straps come up on her belly to keep her stable.  Next the chute is lifted about 3-4 feet into the air.  This minimizes bending for the trimmer.  The legs are stabalized so she doesn't kick and she's ready to be trimmed!  The trimmer will work on one side and then move to the next. 

Here are a few videos of hooftrimming day.  The chute they are in looks kind of scary but its really just a bunch of hydrolics and metal designed to keep the cow comfortable and the trimmer safe! 

Miss Olive gets a pedicure

#282 gets a pedicure

Its very important to really analyze and reshape the toes.  The trimmer is a trained professional and can tell how healthy a cow is by the bottom of her feet.  Here is what the toes look like after:

Those are some good lookin' toes!

Thanks Mr. Hooftrimmer for letting me stalk you today! :)  Olive especially appreciated it. :)

MythBuster MONDAY: Removing the babies from their mother shows that dairy farmers don't care about their animals.

Myth: Removing the babies from their mothers shows that dairy farmers don’t care about their animals. Fact: The future of any dairy herd depends on the health of newborn calves.

Calves grow up to become the cows that produce milk, so getting them off to a healthy start is really important. A farmer spends two years taking special care of each calf before she produces milk for the dairy.  All throughout the birthing process, the cow and calf are closely monitored.  After the new little critter is delivered safely, we take immediate care, just as you would a newborn human baby.  Within 6 hours, we feed the calf two bottles of colostrum, which is its mother's first milk and is rich in fat, protein and natural immunity-building antibodies.   It is extremely important that the calf receives this "colostrum" because it will help ensure the health of the calf throughout life.

Video of a cow giving birth

Video of a cow licking off her calf

Monitoring the "calving pen" is a very important task on any dairy.  Many nights my husband is up multiple times checking on the cows to make sure they are progressing well.  It seems like cows LOVE to calve between 2-4 am.  On larger dairies, where they have more employees, the barns are designed so that there is always someone walking by the maternity area so it is on a constant watch.  Other times, dairy farmers install video systems and link it to their office or home.  (jealous)

We separate the calf from the cow within 24 hours of birth, which eases the stress on both animals.  It also helps prevent disease in the vulnerable newborn calf by moving it to a nearby sterile environment, the calf hutch.  This is a very important step.  Why?  Here are some examples:    Yesterday, we left a calf with the cow longer than normal and almost had a huge disaster.  The cow had accidentally stepped on the newborn's umbilical cord.  When we found the calf, it was laying in a huge pool of blood and almost dead.  My husband immediately started an IV so it could get fluids, gave it Vitamin K to help clot the blood and then tied off the cord.  Whew!  Good save!  She is doing well today but it was definately a close call.  We have also had a mother cow accidentally step on the calf.  It breaks my heart to see a broken leg or broken ribs because we didnt remove the calf. :(

Salsa.... says "Hi!"

For the first three months, our calves live in a hutch, which is an individual housing unit designed for young calves to move around, lie down, eat and drink as needed, while protecting their health and controlling their environment.

Calf hutches

 

Do you have any questions? Please post on here or send me a personal message on fb. :)