the dairy barn
MARCH 20-21
2021
And on that farm, he had a cow.
Key Terms
Calf: A baby bovine animal
Heifer: A female bovine animal who has not given birth to a calf
Cow: A female bovine animal who has given birth to a calf
Steer: A male bovine who has been castrated
Bull: A male bovine who has not been
castrated
Life of a Ontario Dairy Farmer
4:30 AM – Rise and shine! The first task of the day is to milk the cows.
8:00 AM – Breakfast time – but for the cows and calves first. It is important that the cows have fresh feed following milking.
10:00 AM – The milk truck arrives to pick up the milk. The truck typically comes every second day to ensure milk is kept fresh.
11:00 AM – Back out to the barn to check on the cows. It is important to ensure the cows have clean bedding and feed available.
12:00 PM – Lunch time.
2:00 PM – Back out to the barn. It is important to check on the pregnant cows regularly to ensure they are not having any calving difficulties.
4:30 PM – Time for your second milking. Most farms in Ontario milk their cows twice a day.
6:00 PM – Supper time for the cows and calves.
7:00 PM – Dinner time.
8:00 PM – Check the cows one more time before bed.
Milking System
Tie-Stall: Cows are each in their own stalls where that are attached by a rope or chain
Side Opening Parlour: Cows are parallel to the operator pit
Herringbone Parlour: Milking machines are positioned in-between two aisles
Parallel Parlour: Cows stand on an elevated platform, 90° from the operator area
Swing Parlour: Cows are about a 70° from the operator
Rotary Parlour: Cows on a raised, circular platform, that rotates slowly to allow cows to enter and exit
Robotic Milker: Cows go into an automatic milking system, where the cows will be identified, milked and that milk can be tested
What can raw cow’s milk be made into?
Processed Milk | Cream | Yogurt | Cheese | Butter | Ice Cream | Kefir
what other types of animals are used in the dairy industry?
Goats | Sheep | Camels | Donkeys
Fun Fact
Cattle can go up stairs but not down as they have poor depth perception.
Like humans, dairy cattle have nutritionists that advice the farmer on what to feed them.
Canadian dairy farmers are certified under Pro-Action to demonstrate the care that they provide to their cattle and the environment.
eating habits
Cattle are grazers which means that they primarily eat grasses and herbage.
Farm to Store
The Farm
The cow will be milked and this milk will be
stored in milk tanks on farm
Transport Truck
Large transport trucks with stainless steel
bodies are used to transport the milk
Lab
The milk will be tested for antibiotics, bacteria count, protein and milk fat in the lab
Storage Silo
In the silo, the milk will be pasteurized, homogenized, separated into cream and milk and further processed
Packing Machine
The milk will travel through pipes to packaging machines which will put them in their containers
Stores
Milk will be transported to stores where it can be bought by customers
Popular Dairy Breeds
• Holstein
• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Brown Swiss
• Ayrshire
• Milking shorthorn
