The Benefits of Dairy and Mooore!

When do you choose dairy? Is it in the morning before work or school with a bowl of cereal? How about lunchtime with a yogurt for dessert? Or do you sit down for supper with a yummy grilled cheese sandwich? As one can see, any time can be dairy time! Whether you are just getting something to drink or having a full three course meal, implementing dairy into your diet is very simple and anyone can do it. Most importantly, having three servings of dairy each day can be very beneficial to one's health.

The nutrients from dairy products alone are one of the major reasons why you should include this wholesome product into your diet. As the Dairy Council states, some of the vitamins and major minerals found in dairy products that help maintain a healthy body include:

• Vitamin A (For good eyesight, development of body tissues, and normal growth)
• Vitamin D (For healthy bones and teeth)
• Vitamin E (For protecting cell membranes)
• Vitamin K (For blood clotting)
• Vitamin B (Various forms) (For healthy red blood cells, metabolism, cell division, healthy skin, etc.)
• Vitamin C (For structure and maintenance of blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and bone)

• Calcium (For growing and maintaining healthy teeth and bones
• Phosphorus (For bones and teeth, cell membrane structure, tissue growth, and regulation of pH levels in the body)
• Iodine (For production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the thyroid which regulates the metabolism rate of the body)
• Magnesium (For skeletal development, muscle contraction, and nerve function)
• Zinc (For fighting infections, wound healing, and sense of taste)
• Potassium (For fluid balance, nerve function, and heart functions)

All these nutrients come together to strengthen bones and teeth, reduce blood pressure, and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. No wonder milk is called nature's nearly perfect food!

So what do some of the dairy options include? Well, the easiest and best choice is just an 8 ounce glass of low or fat free milk. Cheese, another option, comes in all kinds of varieties. There's cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, Parmesan, blue, Gouda and the list goes on. For those looking for fruity flavors, then yogurt is the treat for them coming in many different fruit varieties including peach, strawberry, and lime. Ice cream, a personal favorite of mine, is also a great source of dairy along with butter. Let's not forget about the creams: heavy whipping cream, whipped cream, sour cream, and cream cheese. The possibilities are endless to what you can make or add with these great dairy products.

To end this post on a yummy note, I am adding links to some tasty recipes that all include at least one or two dairy products in them. I hope you enjoy them and try them out. Happy cooking, remember your three servings, and have a dairy good day!

Breakfast

Croissant French Toast with Fresh Berries

Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping


Lunch

Mac and Cheese BLT

Nonna's Meatball Sub

Dinner

Grilled Butter Chicken Pizza

Stampede Centennial Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Information, recipes, and recipe pictures located at:
http://www.dairygoodness.ca/
http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=73
http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=72
http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=71
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/healthy-living/free-nutrition-articles/109-dairy-milk-products

Other pictures located at:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aipl.arsusda.gov%2Fkc%2Fdairy.html&ei=ggNQVIz6EMGryATZvYDADQ&psig=AFQjCNFkyVnpQTPKIp6Vbab1xbzWnp03cg&ust=1414616294863228

http://giphy.com/gifs/breakfast-cute-food-IsSkJaiwBrQxW

http://southwestdairyfarmers.com/ice_cream

http://cheese-r-us.com/cheese-101/

"She's So Skinny": Explaining the Dairy Cow Figure

While at the local county fair and the Minnesota State Fair, many people will come walking by our dairy cows and stop to ask a couple questions about them. "What's their name?"; "How old are they?"; and "What breed are they?" are the typical questions that most people ask. Every once in a while, a person will comment on the physical looks of the dairy cow saying, "She looks so skinny." or "I can see her ribs.". They are concerned that we are not feeding them enough, we are milking them too much,  or that the cows must be sick because they are so thin. This is not the case. Dairy farmers strive everyday to make sure their cows are at their peak health and are fed proper, nutritious feeds. People draw these conclusions because often times, they have just come from seeing the cattle in the beef barn which are more stocky when compared to the tall, angular dairy cow. Other times, the only cows they see represented in the media and books are fatter, bigger built animals. So, in this blog post, I will try to bring to light the reason why dairy cows are "so skinny".

Typical Dairy Cow

Typical Beef Cow

Dog breeds are great analogy to help in clarifying the differences in cattle. There are hundreds of kinds of dogs that are each bred for specific reasons. Greyhounds are skinny looking similarly to dairy cows and are bred for speed and agility. Cattle working dogs on the other hand like the Australian cattle dog are built with more muscle, are a more robust, and are bred for herding activities. Just like dogs are bred for different purposes, so are cows.

 When comparing a typical dairy cow to a typical beef cow, there are quite a few noticeable differences between the two. The biggest and most important difference is that the dairy cow is raised for milk production and the beef cow is raised for meat production. In beef, the calories taken in from their food is converted into muscle and fat reserves. This gives them the bulky, more stocky appearance. In the case of the dairy cow, the calories taken in are converted into milk production. Making milk takes a lot of energy, so instead of having all their calories go to making unneeded fat reserves, it is used almost right away to produce milk. In truth, a cow will consume around 90 pounds of feed and drink as much water as a bathtub full all in one day. Since this food and water is used for energy in the mammary system (udder) of the dairy cow, there is less fat on the dairy cow figure giving her the "thinner", more angular appearance. 

This also goes into why a dairy cow's udder is larger than a beef cow's udder. It is more capacious (bigger) because they are bred to produce larger quantities of milk. On the other hand, while beef produce milk too, they do it on a smaller scale and the milk is mainly used for feeding their young. Another distinct feature are the sizes of the breeds. Dairy cattle are typically taller and longer individuals when compared against beef cattle giving them that more angular presence. Beef are stereotypically shorter and have a more compact which makes them look muscular and bulky.

A dairy show cow

A beef show cow

I hope I helped in clarifying why dairy cattle look different. Just like dogs, cats, and humans, cows come in different forms with various genetic traits that make them who they are. Thanks for reading. Until next time, remember your three servings and have a dairy good day!




Information located at: 

http://dairycarrie.com/2013/06/10/why-are-dairy-cows-skinny/

http://www.albertamilk.com/ask-dairy-farmer/why-are-dairy-cows-so-skinny/
http://www.dairymoos.com/how-much-do-cows-weight/
http://www.agintheclassroom.org/teacherresources/AgMags/Dairy%20Ag%20Mag%20for%20SmartBoard.pdf

Pictures located at:

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/PAT/recs/livestk/recbeef/recbeef.htm

http://farmingamerica.org/2013/04/18/wheres-the-beef-or-where-does-beef-come-from/

http://www.hereford.co.za/show-results/royal-show-pietermaritzburg-2012/
http://www.albertadairycongress.ca/?content/dairy-cows-show-and-sale.html
http://www.jeffersoncountyfairpark.com/fairpark/dairy-barn-facility

Our Udder Mothers

Foster Mother's of the Human Race, by Bonnie Mohr
For more of her paintings, visit:
 http://www.bonniemohr.com/

Before I get too ahead of myself in talking about the dairy industry, I feel I should introduce you to the girls behind mother nature's wholesome drink. In the United States, there are seven dairy cow breeds that are recognized by the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA). The different breeds recognized all bring their own unique set of qualities that make them favorites with dairy farmers. With variations in size, shape, color, and milk production; dairy farmers have a lot to choose from when deciding which cow is the right choice for them. Below is some general information about each of the seven breeds.

AYRSHIRE

 [air-shy-er]

Blind Buck Vall Sol Redpepper

Origin: 

Ayrshire's country of origin is Scotland in the County of Ayr before the 1800's. In the United States, they were first imported about 1822 to Windsor, Connecticut. 

Color:

Ayrshires are a combination of a light or dark red/mahogany and white color with black hooves. 

Size:

They are described as medium sized when compared to the other breeds and typically weigh around 1,200 pounds at maturity. 

Breed Traits:

Most often known for their longevity (long lives), feed efficiency, udder quality, how easy they are to care for. They are a very hardy (sturdy) breed that can live in numerous environments.

More Information:
http://www.usayrshire.com/

BROWN SWISS

[brown-swiss]

*My personal favorite

Old Mill E Snickerdoodle

Origin:
Brown Swiss are considered one of, if not the oldest of the dairy breeds. They originate from the European country of Switzerland. Some historians believe they first appeared around 4000 B.C.. In 1869, the first Brown Swiss came to America and found a home in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Color:
Colors can vary in different shades of gray, brown, tan, and can sometimes come close to white. Their hooves are black as well as their nose with a distinct white patch around the nose.

Size:
Brown Swiss are typically larger cows, and at maturity, can weigh up to 1,300 to 1,400 pounds.

Breed Traits:
This breed of dairy cows are adaptable to any environment they are put in. Brown Swiss are very docile creatures with gentle temperaments. They are mostly known for their high protein content in their milk as well as having excellent feet and legs which lead them to live longer lives.

More Information:
http://www.brownswissusa.com/Home/tabid/59/Default.aspx

GUERNSEY

[gurn-zee]

Four Winds Mentor Highlite - EX-94

Origin:
Guernseys come from the small island called the Isle of Guernsey which is located off the coast of France in the English Channel. They originate from around 960 A.D.. This breed made its way to the United States in 1840 and arrived in the port of New York.

Color: Guernseys' markings are described as fawn colored along with white markings across their body. Their hooves are typically tan.

Size:
This breed typically fits in the middle range of size and weighs about 1,200 pounds when they are mature cows.

Breed Traits:

These dairy cows are known for having good habits, being able to adapt easily to their surroundings, and calving easily. The milk of a Guernsey cow is the most famous for having milk high in protein, butterfat, and beta-carotene (a fat soluble compound that can be converted into vitamin A which helps maintain healthy skin).

More Information:
http://www.usguernsey.com/

HOLSTEIN (BLACK & WHITE)

[hole-steen]

Hendel Plt Marilyn 3021-ET

Origin:
The Holstein breed came from Holland (what is now the Netherlands) to the United States in 1852. The breed itself showed up roughly 2,000 years ago. The first Holsteins in America settled around Boston, Massachusetts.

Color:
The different markings on a Holstein are black and white with each animal having a unique pattern similar to fingerprints on humans. Hoof color is usually tan, but can have a black stripe along the sides.

Size:
One of the larger breeds in the dairy industry, a mature Holstein cow can weigh around 1,500 pounds.

Breed Traits:
The most recognized of the dairy breeds and most popular with farmers; Holsteins are the top producers of milk for the United States. Their great milk production, feed efficiency, and environment adaptability easily make them great cows for dairy farmers.

More Information:
http://www.holsteinusa.com/

JERSEY

[jur-zee]

Marynole Excite Rosey

Origin:
Jerseys originate from Jersey Island which is a British island off the coast of France. They are another one of the oldest breeds in the dairy world. In 1850, the first Jerseys were brought over from Europe to the United States.

Color:
Jerseys can vary in light and dark shades and colors of grays (mousy), fawns, and almost black. Hooves are all black.

Size:
The smallest of the dairy breeds, Jerseys weigh somewhere around 900 to 1,000 pounds when they mature.

Breed Traits:

Besides their short stature and dairyiness appearance, Jerseys are adaptable to many conditions, they live long lives, and are very efficient in eating and producing milk. Their milk is is the highest in milk solids. This makes it healthier and better for making different milk products like cheese. 

More Information:
http://www.usjersey.com/

MILKING SHORTHORN

[milking-short-horn]

Walnut Grove Sandy-EXP

Origin:
Milking Shorthorns came from the Northeastern part of England in the Valley of the Tees River. They are also an older breed, originating somewhere in the mid 1600's. The first Milking Shorthorns arrived in the United States in 1783.

Color:

The color combinations of Milking Shorthorns are mostly red, red and white, mostly white, or a color known as roan which is a very close mixture of red and white (try thinking of spray paint). Their hooves are also black.

Size:
This breed typically fits in the middle size range and can weigh about 1,200 when they reach maturity.

Breed Traits: Other than their unique coloring pattern, Milking Shorthorns are docile cows who live long lives that produce a lot of milk. Farmers like them because of how easy they are to manage and they have little to no trouble when calving.

More Information:
http://www.milkingshorthorn.com/

RED & WHITE (HOLSTEIN)

[red-and-white-hole-steen]

Scenic-Edge Jamboliya-Red

Origin:
The Red & White breed originally came from Holland just like the regular Holsteins did. they came from the Holstein breed, but through different breeding and genetics, the red and white colored Holsteins became more prominent in the 1960's in the United States. 

Color:
They are red and white colored with tan hooves. Similar to the black and white Holsteins, they sometimes with have the black stripe on the side of their hooves.

Size:
Red & Whites like Holsteins will be on the larger size and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.

Breed Traits:
Their traits are similar to those of black and white Holsteins, except that these are red and white colored.

More Information:
http://www.redandwhitecattle.com/

Thanks for reading this week's post! Don't forget your three dairy products a day and have a dairy good day!


Information located at:

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/nadairy.htm

http://www.purebreddairycattle.com/pages/Breeds.php

http://www.brownswissusa.com/Breed/BrownSwissBreed/tabid/173/Default.aspx

http://www.holsteinusa.com/holstein_breed/breedhistory.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/beta-carotene/background/hrb-20058836

Picutres located at:

http://www.brownswissusa.com/Breed/History/tabid/89/Default.aspx

http://www.dairycowdaily.com/Senior-Champion-Ayrshires-Junior-Show-World-Dairy-Expo.html

http://www.dairycowdaily.com/Four-Winds-Mentor-Highlite.html

http://www.holsteinplaza.com/hendel-plt-marilyn-3021-et

http://www.dairycowdaily.com/2011-All-American-Milking-Shorthorns.html

http://www.kueffnerkows.com/rosey.html

http://www.hoards.com/blog_final-sales-remarqued-Foster-Mothers-print

http://www.cowsmo.com/news/scenic-edge-holsteins-consigns-to-the-national-red-white-sale-2014/