The Story of MilkThe Story of Milk

By: Audrey HarmonBy: Audrey Harmon

Dairy farmers keep their cows Dairy farmers keep their cows healthy by making sure they healthy by making sure they

have plenty of grass and hay to have plenty of grass and hay to eat. Healthy cows produce eat. Healthy cows produce

healthy milk.healthy milk.

Dairy operators must keep exact Dairy operators must keep exact records on milk production, feed, and records on milk production, feed, and labor costs. Ear tags are important so labor costs. Ear tags are important so that the farmer can track a cow’s milk that the farmer can track a cow’s milk production and health records.production and health records.

The farmer will milk the cows at The farmer will milk the cows at least twice a day. The cattle enter least twice a day. The cattle enter the barn in a line. They will come the barn in a line. They will come into the barn in almost the same into the barn in almost the same

order each time.order each time.

The cattle will enter the barn The cattle will enter the barn and go into a holding area until and go into a holding area until

it is their turn to be milked.it is their turn to be milked.

Most dairies are automated. Most dairies are automated. Gates open and close without Gates open and close without the aid of humans and even the aid of humans and even

assist in moving the cows along.assist in moving the cows along.

Some farmers milk their cows by Some farmers milk their cows by hand while others use a milking hand while others use a milking machine. Once the cows are in the machine. Once the cows are in the stall, their udders are washed and stall, their udders are washed and the milking the milking machine is machine is attached.attached.

Milking machines can milk one Milking machines can milk one cow in about five minutes. Milking cow in about five minutes. Milking machines allow the farmer to milk machines allow the farmer to milk faster and to keep everything faster and to keep everything cleaner and more sanitary. cleaner and more sanitary.

After the cow is milked, its udder After the cow is milked, its udder is washed, again. Then iodine is is washed, again. Then iodine is

put on the udder to keep it put on the udder to keep it healthy.healthy.

After the cows are milked the stalls After the cows are milked the stalls are washed before the next group are washed before the next group

enters.enters.

After the cow is milked, the milk After the cow is milked, the milk is cooled and stored in a is cooled and stored in a

stainless steel tank until it is stainless steel tank until it is time for it to go to a milk time for it to go to a milk

processing plant.processing plant.

When it is time to take the milk to a When it is time to take the milk to a processing plant, a stainless steel processing plant, a stainless steel tank truck comes to the farm and tank truck comes to the farm and pumps the milk from the cooling pumps the milk from the cooling tank. The tank keeps the milk cool tank. The tank keeps the milk cool during the trip to the processing during the trip to the processing plant.plant.

When the milk arrives at the When the milk arrives at the plant, workers take it and make plant, workers take it and make

many delicious, healthy things to many delicious, healthy things to eat and drink. Some of these eat and drink. Some of these

include:include: