A cow stands in a dairy farm, followed by a man mixing milk in a tank using an instrument. He transfers milk into a beaker atop the tank.
The US dairy industry is vital to our economy and food supply. In recent years, growth in American dairy production has allowed for expansion into a global market. Just a decade ago, the US dairy industry was domestically focused. Today, one in seven tankers of milk leaving American farms is turned into products sold overseas.
The scene transitions to multiple cows in a rotary milking parlor at the farm.
On a dairy farm, the cows are milked in a milking parlor. Milking parlors are designed to reduce stress and ensure the safety of the cows and dairy workers, as well as milking efficiency.
Diagrams of Herringbone and Rotary milking parlors are displayed.
The herringbone and rotary parlors are the most common designs.
Cow udders are connected to teat cups; a man cleans and disinfects them.
In the milking parlor, the cows’ udders face outwards so the farmer can clean up and inspect teats and hook up the teat cups. The cows often stand on a raised floor, so the teats are about chest high on the dairy worker. The cow’s teats are always cleaned, dried, and disinfected prior to milking. After milking, the teats are again disinfected to prevent infection.
The scene shifts to an image of a milk cooling facility.
Once harvested, the milk is cooled within 2 hours to below 45°F. The milk is tested before processing to ensure it meets all health and safety standards.
A slide presents 7 types of cows found in the US: “Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, Red and White Holstein.”
There are seven breeds of cows in the United States. The two most recognized and well-known are the Holstein and Jersey. The other breeds are Guernsey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, and the red and white Holstein.
Crossbred cows inside a farm are shown, returning to the previous slide highlighting Jersey and Holstein cow breeds.
Some dairy operations will have crossbred cows, meaning they are a combination of more than one breed of cow. This can help with potential genetics issues and sustainability of the herd. In addition to a breed’s level of production and the farmer’s preference of traits, the dairy farmer must consider breeds that perform best in the geographical area of the dairy to ensure the dairy’s success.
Animal records are fed into a computer, transitioning to a shelf lined with neat animal vaccination supplies.
Dairy farmers keep some of the most extensive records in all of agriculture because complete and accurate health records are critical to ensuring herd health and for tracking product origin. Dairy farmers also implement comprehensive vaccination and parasite control programs. Keeping a dairy herd healthy is of utmost importance for any dairy operation because illness can spread quickly and endanger the dairy business as well as the herd’s health.
Cows are depicted eating inside a cattle farm, transitioning to an image of a storage tank used in artificial insemination.
To ensure a herd’s productivity over time, dairy farmers purchase replacement females and bull semen from reputable producers. The bull semen is used for artificial insemination. Artificial insemination, or AI, is the most common reproduction method used in the dairy industry.
Images of cows in different cattle farms are shown, transitioning to the production of ice creams. Empty cones are filled with cream using an injection machine.
The demand for dairy products and the global nature of the dairy industry has created a wide range of career opportunities. You could choose to work in research, veterinary medicine, or herd management, or as a milk processor or cheese maker. Or, you could produce an American favorite in a wide variety of flavors… ice cream!