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What is DAIRY? COW’S HEALTHY Dairy cows are fascinating animals. teeth. also helps our muscles meal and vitamins/minerals. Dairy cows They turn grass and grains into . and nerves work properly, and helps also drink 30-50 gallons of each Heifers are female dairy that have blood clot. Milk products also provide day. That is about an entire bathtub Vitamins/Minerals not given birth to a . Once a heifer us with carbohydrates, protein and full of water. With all that eating and 2 pounds gives birth, it is called a cow. All female . You should have 3 servings drinking, are cows stuffed? The simple dairy cows must have a calf to produce of nonfat or low- milk and milk answer is ‘no’. They are eating to meet Ground Corn Meal milk. The gestation (pregnancy) period products each day. One serving of their energy (calorie) needs—they 8 pounds 5 pounds for cows is nine months. Newborn dairy is equal to 1 cup of milk, do not overeat. Young animals that weigh about 80-100 pounds. or ice and 1 ½ -2 ounces of are actively growing have greater Male are called and do . requirements for protein than older 20 pounds not produce milk. animals. Corn A 1,500 pound dairy cow eats 100 65 pounds Milk provides your body with calcium, pounds of feed each day. This includes which is needed for healthy bones and corn silage, hay, ground corn, soybean Total: 100 pound per day DID YOU KNOW? National Milk Day Each year, U.S. Milk is part of On average, is January 11th. dairy your school each cow provide milk to lunch and has produces It marks the make more than been for over 8-10 gallons 70 years. first day milk 1 billion pounds of milk per of , 7 billion The National day. That deliveries in glass School Lunch bottles began in pounds of cheese is over 100 and 1 billion Act was the glasses per gallons of ice passed in day. in 1878. cream. 1946. DAIRY breeds Holstein Guernsey Red and White Holstein calf There are seven different dairy colors with patches. Some breeds cow breeds in the United States. produce a lot of milk and some The most common breed in breeds produce milk with a lot of the United States is Holsteins. butterfat. Farmers consider this Holsteins are black and white. when choosing a breed of dairy Other breeds include Jersey, cows. Farmers improve their herd Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Ayrshire, through genetics and select cows , and Red and that produce more milk or have a White Holstein. They can be tan, higher butterfat content in their milk. brownish gray, golden brown, reddish brown or shades of these Brown Swiss Ayrshire and calf

BULL: male cattle GENETICS: how certain PASTEURIZE: process used for breeding features pass from parents of heating and cooling milk to their young to kill bacteria and protect CALCIUM: a mineral found its purity and flavor in dairy products that is needed HAY: grass, or for healthy teeth and bones that is cut, dried and baled, PASTURE: land covered and fed to cattle with grass and other low plants CALF: cattle less suitable for animals. than 3 months of age HEIFER: female cattle STEER: male cattle that have not had a calf SILAGE: fermented corn, not used for breeding CARBON FOOTPRINT: or hay with the stalks and the effect life has on HOMOGENIZE: process leaves that is chopped and fed : part of a dairy the environment where milk fat is broken into tiny to cattle cow that produces, stores particles that are evenly spread and dispenses milk COW: a female cow that throughout the milk SILO: a structure for storing has given birth to a calf bulk materials used in WEAN: switching a calf MILK: a nutrient rich to store grain or fermented feed from its mother’s milk to group containing DAIRY: liquid that comes from known as silage eating on its own milk and milk products female VOCABULARY Environment & FAMILY : Sustainability A True Commitment of all U.S. dairy farms are Most dairy farmers live and work on their farms. Dairy family-owned and operated. farmers protect the land, water and air not only for their There are about 42,000 dairy farms in animals, but also for their families, the surrounding the United States. Dairy farmers work 97% hard each day to provide safe, community, and future generations. Water conservation, management, and improving air quality are a few wholesome, nutrient-rich milk to the public, while caring ways they protect their and the environment. For for their animals, land and communities. Dairy farmers example, water used to clean milking parlors is reused to make positive contributions to rural America. To keep clean alleyways and irrigate fields. Nutrient rich manure a Dairy farm running, every member of the family is is spread on fields so crops grow better. Air quality is involved. Farm kids are learning hard work, dedication and improved by following proper manure storage practices family loyalty. This helps prepare them to come and by maintaining clean facilities. back to the farm to continue the legacy of their family.

equipment identifies the cow, sanitizes models. They also provide more ability the udder, collects the milk and to quickly monitor changes in animal releases the cow when she is behavior that might reflect changes in done milking. health or well-being.

Activity monitors (D), such as tracking Ear tags (F), similar to earrings, allow ON THE FARM collars, measure activity. They are farmers to track critical information similar to Fitbits. The collars detect about each cow. The ear tags contain Technological advances are enabling Milk yield recording systems (B) provide abnormal activity changes, which chips that can be scanned. The scan farmers to make smarter day-to-day individual animal data including the often are early warning signs of illness sends information to a computer about decisions to improve cow health, amount of milk produced at each or infection. This allows for quicker a cow’s body temperature, health, and production and on-farm efficiencies. milking. It also tests milk components, treatment. The Fitbit-type devices also how much milk it gives. Following are some examples of such as protein. Dairy farmers can spot show activity changes that help detect technology used on dairy farms. changes in animal health and provide when a cow is ready for breeding or Genetic samples can be obtained necessary care quickly with the help of labor so the can provide timely from a cow’s blood, hair, or tissue. Automated calf feeders (A) provide these systems. attention and the cow can deliver a These samples are sent to a lab that nutrition for calves several times a healthy calf. creates a genomic report. The farmer day, adjusting for the calves’ age. Automated milking systems (C) reduce uses the information to make decisions Automated feeders can help calves the labor required to milk cows. Cows Computer, tablet, (E) and phone apps to increase milk production while grow faster and stay healthier because enter an unit without and programs allow for greater data minimizing the number of animals of precise diet delivery. help. Computer-controlled collection and accurate decision needed on the farm.

A B C D E F ON THE FARM ON THE FARM ON THE FARM ON THEON FARM THE FARM There are many practices dairy farmers use to QUICK COOLING OF MILK AND produce high-quality, wholesome and safe milk. IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION TO Pasteurization involves heating, then rapidly These critical practices start with the cow and THE MANUFACTURER cooling . This step is very important Safety end at your table. The practices include: Milk collected from dairy cows is cooled to 45° for the continued production of safe milk. The KEEPING COWS HEALTHY F or less within two hours of the completion of Food and Drug Administration and the Centers By adopting best management practices, such milking in order to reduce the possibility of any for Disease Control recommend drinking only and as climate-controlled , milking bacteria growth. The practice of quick cooling pasteurized milk. and regular veterinary care, dairy farmers assures that the most wholesome milk reaches PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION increase the well-being of their cow herd by the consumer. It takes about two days for milk to go from the Quality reducing the risk of disease and infection. TESTING FOR ANTIBIOTICS farm to the store. Milk is transported in tanker STRICT, ON-FARM help dairy farmers administer trucks that keep it cold and sanitary. When milk is received at the processor, it is checked to MILKING PROCEDURES antibiotics when they are needed to treat an ensure quality. Once the milk passes inspection, Today, human hands never touch milk as it illness. Antibiotics are not used regularly, but it is pumped into large insulated vats. Then it is travels from cow to consumer. People milking when they are used, the treated cow’s milk pasteurized, homogenized, and packaged for cows wear gloves to prevent any transfer of is discarded and does not enter the human distribution to stores, schools and households. pathogens from cow to cow. A cow’s are food system. Every tanker of milk is tested for cleaned before and after milking to minimize the antibiotic. In the rare event a tanker tests positive, chance bacteria is transferred to milk. Equipment the milk is destroyed immediately and never is also cleaned after each milking. reaches the consumer.

The Power of 4 Dairy cattle are called Rumen because they have a four-compartment stomach. The four compartments human of a cow’s stomach are the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Dairy cows chew their food to soften NUTRITION it, swallow it, and then return it to their mouth for continued chewing. This is Together, milk, cheese, and yogurt called chewing the cud. After chewing provide nine essential nutrients, including Reticulum the cud, it is swallowed a second time, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, broken down further, and digested. vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and Cows spend up to eight hours a day niacin. Beyond building stronger bones, chewing their cud. Cows can convert three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free Omasum Abomasum plants that cannot eat into dairy improve overall diet quality nutritious foods like milk because of this and reduce the risk of various chronic unique digestive system. diseases. DAIRY PRODUCTS Many dairy products can be found in the grocery CHEESE YOGURT store. These include milk, , , Cheese is another nutritious food made from milk. The two main ingredients in yogurt are milk cheese, butter, yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, People crave cheese more than any other food, so and bacterial cultures. That is a good thing. Milk cottage cheese and . it is not surprising that the average American eats strengthens our teeth and bones, while the cultures over 37 pounds of cheese each year. That is easy to help fight infection and boost our immune system. ICE CREAM do, considering cheese can be found in many of our There are many different varieties and flavors of Ice cream is a popular dessert. At any given time favorite foods, such as yogurt. When you are at the , check 87% of Americans have it in their homes. Milk and pizza. There are many them out. Yogurt is a fun way to add calcium to cream are the essential ingredients in ice cream. different varieties of your diet. In fact, it takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make cheese – something for 1 gallon of ice cream. everyone’s taste preference.

Most Americans prefer vanilla over any other flavor. What is your favorite flavor? Determine your classmates’ favorite flavor with a class survey. Create a graph showing the results.

Fun Fact: The ice cream sundae originated in Evanston, IL.

The Top 5 Milk Producing Illinois... States Are: has over 680 licensed dairy herds. 1. WI NY ID st 2. ranks 21 in milk production in the United States. 3. New York CA 4. Idaho has 24 dairy processing plants 5. Texas T that make a variety of delicious and nutritious dairy products for you. thinkYOURdrink Think about what you have had to drink today. Refer to your drink label(s) or search the web 8 fluid oz. serving comparison for them, if possible. Discuss whether your drink choices have been nutritious with your class. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Low-fat Milk 1% Fat-free Sports Drink Cola

% Daily Value % Daily Value % Daily Value % Daily Value Total Fat 4 Total Fat 0 Total Fat 0 Total Fat 0 Total Carbohydrates 4 Total Carbohydrates 7 Total Carbohydrates 5 Total Carbohydrates 8 Protein 8 g 16 Protein 8 g 16 Protein 0 g 0 Protein 0 g 0 Vitamin A 10 Vitamin A 10 Vitamin A 0 Vitamin A 0 Vitamin C 0 Vitamin C 2 Vitamin C 0 Vitamin C 0 Vitamin D 30 Vitamin D 25 Vitamin D 0 Vitamin D 0 Calcium 30 Calcium 30 Calcium 0 Calcium 0

100 CALORIES 120 CALORIES 60 CALORIES 100 CALORIES 0 tsp ADDED 1.5 tsp ADDED SUGARS 3 tsp ADDED SUGARS 6 tsp ADDED SUGARS What is the difference? When it comes to milk, there are many varieties to pick from. Here DRY MILK ORGANIC FLAVORED MILK is a closer look at some milk choices available. Next time you tag () Milk products from Chocolate milk and along to get groceries you will have a better idea what the different Liquid milk that has been raised strawberry milk are choices mean. dehydrated forming a according to organic examples. Flavored milk powder. It has a long farming methods has the same amount of shelf-life and is easy to including no antibiotics or vitamins, minerals, and store because it does added hormones. protein as white milk. not require before opening. SKIM (FAT FREE), LOW ULTRA HIGH FAT, OR WHOLE MILK TEMPERATURE (UHT) FREE Refers to the amount MILK Real milk, just without of fat in milk. All have Milk pasteurized to about the lactose. It is a good the same 9 essential 280oF and held only way for people who are nutrients, but they have 2 seconds. Taste and lactose intolerant to get all different fat and calorie nutrition are preserved the great nutrients found contents. They taste while providing a longer in regular milk. different, too. People shelf-life. often consider taste preferences and dietary needs to make the choice that is right for them. dairy CAREER CORNER

Phil Cardoso, DVM, PhD Amy Hildebrandt Frank Doll Assistant Professor, Dairy Farmer | South Beloit, IL Dairy Farmer | Greenville, IL Dairy Research and Extension University of Illinois | Urbana, IL 1. Tell us about your dairy farm and how 1. Tell us about yourself and how you got you got involved. involved in . 1. Describe your position as My husband was a dairy farmer and I My dad took over the in the a nutritionist. began feeding calves after our first child late 1950s. I came along in 1969 and I My position entails understanding the was born. We milked 150 cows at that had a favorite cow as a child. I milked food dairy cows eat, and how those time and then expanded to 200, 400, her and learned how to breed cows. My cows utilize and transform their food into the products that and presently 800 cows. My daughter and I feed 80-100 calves interest in dairy farming solidified in high school. Some days will be consumed by humans. For example, if we feed soybean pasteurized milk twice a day. We also have 60 weaned calves are trying, but I still love every minute of dairy farming. I have meal to cows, we would expect the cows to convert that into that we feed calf starter and hay. two sons and one is showing interest in farming, so there is protein. Feeding cows needs to be affordable to the farmer, so 2. Tell us about your farm and the technology being used. a chance Dairy farming will go into the 4th generation for my I am always checking the prices to make sure the farmers and We presently milk 800 cows in a 40 stall rotary parlor. The family which really excites me. the cows are happy. Lastly, I teach students about animal and rotary has a robotic post-dip arm. Our cows are housed in a 2. What technology do you use on your farm? ruminant nutrition to prepare them for a future career in this cross-ventilated which is climate-controlled. There are The Dairy is exciting because it is rapidly changing with field. 72 fans that pull the air across to keep the building cool. Our all the new technology. I am a big believer in genomics testing. 2. How involved are you with dairy? cows have RFID ear tags which have a computer chip that is For about $35 I get a sample of tissue from a baby calf. I send My research and all classes I teach revolve around dairy cows scanned when they enter the parlor. This sends information, it to a lab for analysis and usually have the calf’s genomics and dairy breeds. A couple examples of those breeds include such as how much each cow gives, to the computer. Our cows information back in about a month. If a calf’s numbers are not Holstein and Jersey. I make sure my research and community- also wear tracking collars to measure activity. This is similar to good for milk production, I can try to sell her. That way I do not based learning programs are relevant and helpful to the farmer a Fitbit. We use recycled bedding in our cow stalls. The manure put resources into an animal that is not going to be productive. by making dairy farming more affordable. runs through a press that separates the liquids from the solids I can also learn if a cow is going to be an exceptional producer. I 3. What is your favorite part of your job? and then we use a skid steer to blow the bedding in the stalls. currently have a cow ranked 130TH in the nation. It’s a big deal. My favorite part is changing people’s lives by teaching them This gives us a smaller carbon footprint and is part of our Genetics-based numbers are a very reliable predictor of a cow’s the importance of the dairy cow. I help students understand sustainability plan. We also have auto-steer on our tractors to potential. I have had people reach out about buying her strictly how to feed a cow properly and I feel a sense of pride when my help with planting and harvesting crops. based on seeing her numbers on the internet. students can talk about lessons learned from my research and 3. What is your favorite part of your job? 3. What do you want people to know about the Dairy industry? teaching. Teaching can be challenging. Each I love feeding the calves and working with my family. We Each generation is getting further removed from dairy farms so person learns differently, so the content must be taught in many have 4 children that are all part of the dairy. We are fortunate there is less understanding of what we do. I think young people different styles in order for the students to fully understand. and blessed to be doing something we love. We live in a great are getting bombarded with information and it’s not all correct. Once the students have a good understanding, they can teach community. I encourage you to get out and see dairy farms. We work hard farmers about proper dairy nutrition. 4. What new and exciting things are every day to do the right thing by our animals and to produce happening in the dairy industry now? great products for people. While I am partial to Prairie Farms, There is new technology being introduced every day. We have whether you want to drink organic, or Great Value, or whatever incorporated a lot of that in our new milking facility. Due to brand is in your grocery store, or eat foods that have cow’s milk better genetics, feed, and housing, the cow of today is able to in them like ice cream, cheese, or yogurt - it’s all good. It’s what produce more milk. Research is showing how important milk I give to my family, and just like your family, I only want what is and milkfat is for the developing mind and as part of a balanced best for my family. nutritious diet. DAIRY HAS 9 ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

CALCIUM VITAMIN D Helps maintain Helps promote Try this simple recipe to make strong bones bone growth your own ice cream! POTASSIUM VITAMIN B12 WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Helps heart Helps maintain pump blood Individual serving Ice Salt, any variety brain function containers of dairy Ziploc bag Dish towel to PHOSPHORUS RIBOFLAVIN coffee creamer insulate hands Helps build Helps convert PROCEDURE: bones and teeth food into fuel 1. Fill Ziploc bag 1/3 full of ice. 5. Layer with more salt. PROTEIN NIACIN 2. Shake several solid sprinkles 6. Finish filling Ziploc Helps preserve Helps body of salt on ice. with ice. and build muscle function normally 3. Put 2-3 sealed creamer 7. Shake Ziploc vigorously cups in Ziploc. for about ten minutes. VITAMIN A Helps eye health 4. Layer with more ice, filling 8. Dig creamer cups and vision Ziploc about 2/3 full. out and enjoy!

Locate the code on your or container, enter it and click Find It. You’ll For More Information, Visit These Websites instantly know which • dairygood.org dairy your milk came • prairiefarms.com • usjersey.com from. The same goes for • moomilk.comfueluptoplay60.com • midwestdairy.com • brownswissusa.com your yogurt, chocolate • fofarms.com • stldairycouncil.org • usguernsey.com milk, coffee cream, • nationaldairycouncil.org • milkingshorthorn.com • hilmarcheese.com cottage cheese, ice • holsteinusa.com • usayrshire.com • milklife.com cream and more.

This issue of Ag Mag has been provided by: WhereIsMyMilkFrom.com Prairie Farms, Midwest Dairy Association, and The IAA Foundation. Common Core: ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1; RI.4.2; RI.4.3; RI.4.5; RI.4.7; SL.4.1; L.4.3 Math.Content.3.NF.A.1; 3.NF.A.2; 3.MD.A.2; 3.MD.B.3; 4.MD.A.1

Next Generation Science Standards: Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits: 3-LS1-1; 3-LS3-1; 3-LS3-2; 3-LS4-2; Structure, Function, and Information Processing: 4-LS1-1; Structure and Properties of Matter: 5-PS1-2; 5-PS1-3

To learn more about Agriculture visit us at agintheclassroom.org, or contact your Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science: SS.IS.1.3-5; SS.IS.2.3-5; SS.IS.3.3-5; County Farm Bureau® office or Agriculture in the Classroom, Illinois Farm Bureau®, SS.IS.4.3-5; SS.IS.5.3-5; SS.IS.6.3-5; SS.EC.1.3; SS.EC.2.3; SS.G.3.4; SS.EC.2.4 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701.