You Determine Higher or Lower Gallon of Milk

You Determine: Higher or Lower? ½ Gallon of Milk 2. 7 pounds Gallon of Milk 5. 6 pounds 5 Gallon Bucket of Milk 41 pounds 32 Gallon Bucket of Milk 302 pounds

Milk 1 gallon of milk weighs… 8. 6 pounds.

Actual Amount of Milk ½ Gallon of Milk Higher - 4. 3 pounds Gallon of Milk Higher - 8. 6 pounds 5 Gallon Bucket of Milk Lower - 43 pounds 32 Gallon Bucket of Milk Lower - 275 pounds

Milk Production Per Cow Per Day • 72 pounds of milk Or • 8. 4 Gallons Or • 134 cups of milk (16 cups/Gallon)

Milk Production Per Cow Per Lactation Period • 22, 000 pounds of milk Or • 2, 560 Gallons Or • 41, 000 cups of milk (16 cups/Gallon) • Lactation = 305 day period using CA dairy production averages

SO… How are dairy cows producing this much delicious milk for us to consume? What is the process? How long do cows milk? When do cows start milking?

Dairy Cow Timeline

Conception Start of timeline Timeline Source: Dr. Karle

Conception 9 • Fetal Calf -9 month gestation period

Newborn Calf • Holstein calf = 85 -100 lbs. • Born into clean environment • Process calf – Navel dipped – Ear tag placed, birth recorded – Colostrum given immediately • Calf removed immediately from cow – – – calf will not drink required volume on own today’s cows produce too much volume today’s cows are not “natural” mothers prevent disease transmission put in warm environment

Conception Birth 9 Bull calves usually sold

Conception 9 Birth Weaning 2 • Weaned Calf - Holsteins usually weaned at about 2 months of age - 200 pounds

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 May sell extras

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 • Heifer Breeding Age - 14 – 15 months so they calve at 22 – 24 months • Heifer Breeding Size - Holsteins- 750 lbs. - Jerseys- 570 lbs.

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 9 May sell extras as bred heifers

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 2 year old 9 • Fresh Heifer (a cow recently calved) - Holstein- calve at 1, 300 lbs. - Jersey- calve at 880 lbs. Fresh 1

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 2 year old 9 Fresh Bred 1 2

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 2 year old 9 Fresh Bred 1 2 Dry 7 • An average cow will milk for 300 days, then she will rest (dry cow) for 60 days before calving again • Dry Heifer/Cow= heifer/cow that is not lactating

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 2 year old 9 Close-up Fresh Bred 1 2 Dry 7 • Close-up Dry Heifer - monitor daily for signs of parturition 1

Conception 9 Birth Weaning Yearling 2 11 Bred 2 3 year old 2 year old 9 Close-up Fresh Bred 1 2 Dry 7 11

conception 9 birth weaning yearling 2 11 bred 2 2 year old 9 3 year old 4 year old close-up fresh bred 1 2 bred dry 7 11 dry 12

Comic Strip

Challenge: How much milk can fit into this 500 gallon hot tub? And now you know HOW cows are providing for us all…