BREEDS OF DAIRY CATTLE

US MILK PRODUCTION Trends Trends Fairly steady slow increase in production Fairly steady slow increase in production Consistent decline in number of dairy operations Consistent decline in number of dairy operations Rise in number of cows per operation Rise in number of cows per operation

US MILK PRODUCTION Since 1970, milk production risen by almost half, even though cow numbers have declined Since 1970, milk production risen by almost half, even though cow numbers have declined Milk production per cow has doubled Milk production per cow has doubled Number of dairy operations has decreased Number of dairy operations has decreased Average herd size increased fivefold Average herd size increased fivefold

US MILK PRODUCTION Top Producing States Top Producing States California California Wisconsin Wisconsin Idaho Idaho New York New York Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

US MILK PRODUCTION West & North West & North Most diary cows are Holsteins Most diary cows are Holsteins Production rests largely in hands of individuals or families Production rests largely in hands of individuals or families Producers belong to cooperatives Producers belong to cooperatives

US MILK PRODUCTION 1/3 processed into fluid milk & cream products 1/3 processed into fluid milk & cream products 2/3 goes into manufactured dairy products 2/3 goes into manufactured dairy products 9 billion pounds of cheese per year 9 billion pounds of cheese per year Mozzarella most popular variety of cheese Mozzarella most popular variety of cheese 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream

CULLING Infertility Infertility Failure to conceive and reduced milk production Failure to conceive and reduced milk production Most fertile between days after calving Most fertile between days after calving Failure to expel afterbirth from precious pregnancy, luteal cysts, metritis, uterine infection Failure to expel afterbirth from precious pregnancy, luteal cysts, metritis, uterine infection Mastitis Mastitis Persistent mammary gland infection Persistent mammary gland infection Reddeing & swelling of infected quarter of udder Reddeing & swelling of infected quarter of udder Whitish clots or pus in the milk Whitish clots or pus in the milk

CULLING Lameness Lameness Persistent foot infection or leg problems causing infertility & loss of production Persistent foot infection or leg problems causing infertility & loss of production High feed levels of digestible carbs cause acidic conditions in rumen High feed levels of digestible carbs cause acidic conditions in rumen Leads to laminitis Leads to laminitis Production Production Failure to produce economic levels of milk to justify their feed costs Failure to produce economic levels of milk to justify their feed costs

ANIMAL WELFARE How often they’re impregnated How often they’re impregnated Separation of calves from their mothers Separation of calves from their mothers Culled at relatively young age Culled at relatively young age Environmental concerns Environmental concerns

HOLSTEIN Europe Europe Highest producing dairy animals Highest producing dairy animals Black & white Black & white Can be red & white Can be red & white Large size Large size Outstanding milk production Outstanding milk production

HOLSTEIN

BROWN SWISS Switzerland Switzerland Second largest quantity of milk Second largest quantity of milk Brown Brown Large size Large size Large ears Large ears Cold & heat resistant Cold & heat resistant Docile Docile

GUERNSEY British Channel Island of Guernsey British Channel Island of Guernsey Known for rich flavor of milk Known for rich flavor of milk Milk is golden color Milk is golden color Fawn Fawn White markings White markings

AYRSHIRE Scotland Scotland Brown markings Brown markings Medium size Medium size With or without colored legs With or without colored legs Low somatic cell count, grass into milk efficiently, hardiness, calving ease, longevity Low somatic cell count, grass into milk efficiently, hardiness, calving ease, longevity

JERSEY Channel Island of Jersey Channel Island of Jersey Small size Small size Fawn Fawn Light band around muzzle Light band around muzzle Dark switch Dark switch Black hooves Black hooves High milk butterfat content, lower maintenance costs, gentle disposition High milk butterfat content, lower maintenance costs, gentle disposition

MILKING SHORTHORN Great Britain Great Britain Average size Average size Red, red with white markings, white, roan Red, red with white markings, white, roan High fertility, grazing efficiency, ease of management, longevity, calving ease High fertility, grazing efficiency, ease of management, longevity, calving ease