There are about 60,000 dairy farms in the United States, and these farms produce 21 billion gallons of milk each year. The dairy cows that live on these farms are an integral part of one of our nation's most prominent industries. Here are a few facts about these important cows.
In each of these farms in the US, an average of 130 dairy cows are existing and these produce about 7 gallons of milk each every day, and these dairy farms are family owned, of which most of the dairy farms in the US are typically about. A few dairy farms have thousands of cows, and some are only with about a dozen cows. California and Wisconsin are the states where most of these cows can be found. The typical dairy cow weighs about 1,400 pounds and these cows are typically milked twice a day.
The Holstein breed is the most common breed in the US and these were first bred in Holland, although there are also several different kinds of breeds of dairy cows. The Ayrshire breed, one coming originally from Scotland is also another breed that can be found. Another type of cow that can be found here originally hails from Switzerland and is one of the world's oldest breed of dairy cows, and this is the Brown Swiss breed. Other breeds that originated from England can be found here include the Guernsey breed and the Jersey breed.
A popular belief is that a cow has four stomachs, but this is not so because cows have only one stomach but with four compartments, and these individual compartments have specific functions in the food processing. One dairy cow typically eats 100 pounds of food daily. This typically is a combination of the following; grains, hay, silage and also other protein sources. Silage is a type of cow food consisting of corn and also preserved grass.
Feeding and care of the dairy cows are daily concerns of the dairy farmer including daily harvesting of milk, and these are among the many concerns he has. Cows produce a lot of waste each day and part of his job is removing this waste and storing this in the waste pits or lagoons, although each cow also produces many gallons of milk every day.
While this agricultural waste can be used as a fertilizer for crops, there are many common problems associated with waste. These problems include the solidifying of waste at the bottom of a lagoon or pit, causing a heavy sludge layer or the crusting of the top layer. Pit foaming is another common problem. Natural products such as Agra Sphere and Activator use naturally occurring bacteria to eat away at sludge and crust and also to reduce foaming. These manure treatments contain no chemicals only bacterial microbes which act as a manure digester. These products also improve the nutrient value of the waste, making it a better fertilizer.
In each of these farms in the US, an average of 130 dairy cows are existing and these produce about 7 gallons of milk each every day, and these dairy farms are family owned, of which most of the dairy farms in the US are typically about. A few dairy farms have thousands of cows, and some are only with about a dozen cows. California and Wisconsin are the states where most of these cows can be found. The typical dairy cow weighs about 1,400 pounds and these cows are typically milked twice a day.
The Holstein breed is the most common breed in the US and these were first bred in Holland, although there are also several different kinds of breeds of dairy cows. The Ayrshire breed, one coming originally from Scotland is also another breed that can be found. Another type of cow that can be found here originally hails from Switzerland and is one of the world's oldest breed of dairy cows, and this is the Brown Swiss breed. Other breeds that originated from England can be found here include the Guernsey breed and the Jersey breed.
A popular belief is that a cow has four stomachs, but this is not so because cows have only one stomach but with four compartments, and these individual compartments have specific functions in the food processing. One dairy cow typically eats 100 pounds of food daily. This typically is a combination of the following; grains, hay, silage and also other protein sources. Silage is a type of cow food consisting of corn and also preserved grass.
Feeding and care of the dairy cows are daily concerns of the dairy farmer including daily harvesting of milk, and these are among the many concerns he has. Cows produce a lot of waste each day and part of his job is removing this waste and storing this in the waste pits or lagoons, although each cow also produces many gallons of milk every day.
While this agricultural waste can be used as a fertilizer for crops, there are many common problems associated with waste. These problems include the solidifying of waste at the bottom of a lagoon or pit, causing a heavy sludge layer or the crusting of the top layer. Pit foaming is another common problem. Natural products such as Agra Sphere and Activator use naturally occurring bacteria to eat away at sludge and crust and also to reduce foaming. These manure treatments contain no chemicals only bacterial microbes which act as a manure digester. These products also improve the nutrient value of the waste, making it a better fertilizer.
About the Author:
Lianne Derocco likes writing about agricultural matters. For further details about agricultural waste treatment solutions, please check out the BioverseAG.com site now or click here.
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