1. Dairy Cattle Dairy Cattle By: Elizabeth Johnson By: Elizabeth Johnson

2. Why I selected • I selected Holstein dairy cattle because I have always wanted to have dairy cattle and have a large dairy farm.

3. Age • The age of dairy cattle that I will have is milking cows. About two years of age.

4. Cost & How Many • I will be getting 100 dairy cattle at the price of $2,500 a cow • For 100 dairy cattle the total cost would be 250,000

5. Selling my product • I will sell my milk to AMPI in New Ulm.

6. Major Purpose • Produce milk • Manure for fields

7. Feeding Requirements • Cows eat about 100 pounds of feed each day, which is a combination of hay, grain and silage (fermented corn or grass). • They drink up to 50 gallons a day.

8. Housing Requirements • In a dairy barn with arm housing is kept no cooler than 4°C (40°F) in winter. • It must be well-insulated to retain animal heat. • Ventilation- removes excess moisture in the winter and excess heat in the summer. • The three basic housing systems are tie-stall, free-stall and loose.

9. Milking Facilities • This must be a sanitary, efficient place to milk cows and handle, cool and hold milk. It demands the greatest investment, the most time and labor, and the strictest sanitation. • It is attached to, but partitioned off from, the barn and the milking parlor. Here milk is cooled and held for pickup and equipment is cleaned and stored in the bulktank. • The milking parlor is used for regular milking. It reduces labor by bringing the cows to the operator. Layout will depend upon required capacity, personal preferences, economics and design. • Herringbone or side-opening stalls in two rows are the most common.

10. Daily Routine • Get up about 5:30 A.M. • Milk cows • Feed • Clean up manure • Vacations if needed Repeat steps at night 5:30 P.M.