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Deep South Remedies Helpful Information
Many of you have had some type of encounter with dairy cows. Perhaps you have seen them on television in commercials, or you may have even seen them grazing in a field and noticed how different they look. There are five common breeds of dairy cows, Ayrshire, Brown Jersey, Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein- Friersian and the Milking Shorthorn Cow.
Ayrshire: The first cows of this breed were thought to have arrived in New England from Scotland’s County Ayr in the early 1820’s. Well adapted to rocky farms and harsh winters, the Ayrshires thrived, eventually spreading to dairy farms all across the country
Brown Swiss: Believed to have originated in the Alps of Switzerland, these hardy animals are tolerant of harsh climate and produce large quantities of milk, close behind the Holsteins. Officially recognized as a breed in the U.S. in 1906, the first small group of cows arrived here in 1869. Though few animals were actually imported, this hasn’t stopped their steady growth in number, and today, the Brown Swiss are very important members of the dairy industry.
Guernsey: As their name suggests, these cows hail from the British Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel. Well-bred by monks from select French Norman/Breton cattle lines (Alderneys from Normandy, Froment du Leons from Brittany), the first to arrive in the U.S. were brought by ship in 1840.
Holstein-Friesian: Originally bred in Northern Germany, and the North Holland/Friesland regions of the Netherlands. These familiar black and white cows were selectively bred to make large quantities of milk from the area’s most abundant natural food source- grass.
Jersey: Developed on Britain’s Isle of Jersey, close to the Isle of Guernsey just off the coast of France. With a history as a pure breed that dates back several hundred years, they are descendants of stock from the French region of Normandy.
Milking Shorthorn: Part of the Shorthorn cattle breed originally developed for beef in Britain, descendants of these moderate producers were bred and selected for milk rather than meat. Arriving in the U.S. in 1783, the first multi-purpose Milking Shorthorns provided the early settlers with not only milk, but meat and pulling power as well.
Each breed gives a slightly different milk product that varies in nutrient content (i.e. protein and vitamins). You are probably most familiar with the Holstein-Friesian (black and white) dairy cow. It is the most popular among dairy farmers because it produces more milk than the other breeds. Although it would make sense for farmers to milk herds of pure Holsteins since they give the most milk, some farmers mix their breeds because cows that are slightly mixed tend to be stronger than pure Holsteins. This hybridization is what accounts for the difference in appearance that you may see in a herd of dairy cows.
What else should you know about cows? Here is some cool information. Just like with humans, there are different names given to cows depending on their sex and stage in life. For example, a female cow younger than 3 years old that has not had a baby is termed a heifer; a male cow is called a bull; and a castrated male is a steer. So a dairy cow is a female that has given birth to a baby. That baby is called a calf. A Holstein’s spots are like fingerprints- no two cows have the exact same pattern of spots. Cow’s provide 90% of the world’s milk supply. The average mature dairy cow weighs approximately 1,500 pounds. How does that compare to your own weight percentage wise.
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