DAIRY CATTLEBy: Elizabeth Johnson

Dairy Cattle

By: Elizabeth Johnson

WHY I SELECTED I selected Holstein dairy cattle because I

have always wanted to have dairy cattle and have a large dairy farm.

AGE The age of dairy cattle that I will have is

milking cows. About two years of age.

COST & HOW MANY I will be getting 100 dairy cattle at the

price of $2,500 a cow For 100 dairy cattle the total cost would

be 250,000

SELLING MY PRODUCT I will sell my milk to AMPI in New Ulm.

MAJOR PURPOSE Produce milk Manure for fields

FEEDING REQUIREMENTS Cows eat about 100 pounds of feed

each day, which is a combination of hay, grain and silage (fermented corn or grass).

They drink up to 50 gallons a day.

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS

• In a dairy barn with arm housing is kept no cooler than 4°C (40°F) in winter.

• It must be well-insulated to retain animal heat.

• Ventilation- removes excess moisture in the winter and excess heat in the summer.

• The three basic housing systems are tie-stall, free-stall and loose.

MILKING FACILITIES

• This must be a sanitary, efficient place to milk cows and handle, cool and hold milk. It demands the greatest investment, the most time and labor, and the strictest sanitation.

• It is attached to, but partitioned off from, the barn and the milking parlor. Here milk is cooled and held for pickup and equipment is cleaned and stored in the bulktank.

• The milking parlor is used for regular milking. It reduces labor by bringing the cows to the operator. Layout will depend upon required capacity, personal preferences, economics and design.

• Herringbone or side-opening stalls in two rows are the most common.

DAILY ROUTINE Get up about 5:30 A.M. Milk cows Feed Clean up manure Vacations if needed

Repeat steps at night 5:30 P.M.