Enjoy That Ice Cream Cone
By John Parker Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing a 5 or 6-year-old child with a big smile on their face licking on a good-sized…
By John Parker
Nothing is more enjoyable than seeing a 5 or 6-year-old child with a big smile on their face licking on a good-sized ice cream cone. Pure pleasure can be seen in childrens faces as they enjoy the cool treat of whatever flavor of ice cream they enjoy most. It’s fun to watch.
Better yet, since this is June Dairy Month, everyone should join those children and enjoy their own ice cream cone or sundae of their choice. And then, enjoy that treat all year long because there are so many great flavors of ice cream one can find on store shelves.
Another look at dairy products tells the consumer that a cool glass of milk with lunch or dinner is also an enjoyable and healthful way to compliment a meal. There are several choices of milks to suit ones taste and diet. Emphasis today seems to be on the low fat milks that are nutritious, but have some of the fat removed.
Everyone should celebrate June Dairy Month, and every month, by honoring local dairy farmers for the kind of job they are doing with their herds and farms. Improvements that dairy farmers have made over the years that have helped keep milk and dairy products at reasonable prices and in abundant supply are nothing short of dramatic.
Looking at some U.S. information, and this can be applied locally, back in 1944, there were 25.6 million cows in the United States. Those cows produced 117 million pound of milk or about 14 million gallons.
In 2010, the population was down to about 9.2 million cows in the country, which equates to 66 percent fewer cows than there were back in 1944. But, those 9.2 million cows produced 190 million pounds of milk. That is an increase of 40 percent more milk – and from 66 percent fewer cows – an exceptional improvement in production from each cow.
Local dairy farmers need the publics thanks for their part in improving production in their cows. They have done it through just plain hard work, good management and wise use and adoption of new technology. Feeding practices and watching the nutritional needs of their cows have been big factors in increasing milk production. Many of them hire a nutritionist to help provide a balance diet for their animals.
Improved housing has been another part of the picture. Free stall barns where cows can move around, eat and drink when they want to and get some exercise have been important. Artificial breeding has brought in herd sires from cows that have top production and these traits are passed on through these sires.
But all this has to be put together in good management to make them work to their best advantage. Dairy farmers, locally and across the country, have become excellent managers along with paying attention to details and the hard work it takes.
Sixty-six percent fewer cows have also brought about some big improvements in the environment. There is less livestock waste to be disposed of with fewer problems for dairy farmers in waste management. Less feed is needed to produce this increased milk, although cows today do eat more than they did 70 years ago. And, there has been a big savings in the overall labor needed to keep the public in an abundant supply of milk.
Milk is a fresh, real, natural product. So, raise ones glass of milk and help celebrate the outstanding job being done by dairy farmers in this area and across the nation.
Parker is an independent agricultural writer.
