We have a guest blogger this week; Johanna Laggis of Laggis Brothers Farm. Read on to learn about the importance of cow care in the winter.
Winter Dairy Farming – A Chilly Affair
By: Johanna Laggis, dairy farmer at Laggis Brothers Farm in East Hardwick, Vermont
It sure has been a long, cold winter! Up here in northern Vermont on Laggis Brothers Farm we have had endless 20 below zero (some even colder) mornings and days that never got above zero. It’s a challenge to work outside all day long, take care of the animals, keep water pipes from freezing and all the equipment running in these conditions.
At the end of the day we farmers get to go inside for a warm meal and sleep between flannel sheets. What about the cows and calves? They need enough to eat and a comfortable place to sleep too, but their houses are not heated and they don’t know what flannel sheets are.
Calves have to be warm and dry to be healthy. As temperatures drop, the amount of energy required to maintain health and growth goes up a lot. The calf barn is not heated, but it keeps the gnarly winds of winter away from the calves. Our Jersey calves drink lots of milk, wear pretty calf blankets and sleep in beds of deep, dry straw. They also get warm water to drink between feedings and when it is really cold they get to wear fleece hats.
Our 500 milking cows don’t need to wear fleece hats, but they do need enough to eat and a comfortable place to lie down. Cows produce a lot of heat in their rumen (one of their 4 stomachs), which helps keep them warm. As long as they have enough to eat, fresh water to drink and are protected from wind they are happy in the winter.
It is hard to believe that daylight savings time is here and it was 25 degrees below zero a few mornings ago. Recently hitting 15 degrees in the morning made it feel like a heat wave. All of the animals and farmers are ready for warmer days and maple sugaring weather.
How do you keep warm in the winter? Just like cows, we like fleece jackets and hats. And there’s nothing like a steaming cup of hot cocoa made with milk! Tell us how you handled the coldest days this year.
On the coldest day of the year in Tampa, Florida, I spent the day wishing it would get cold enough to wear a jacket. I wouldn’t choose to be as cold as it gets in Northern Vermont but not getting any cold weather is flat out boring. Loved your article! Made me turn off the A/C!