Treating animals with respect and compassion is part of every dairy farmer’s heritage. Simply put, no dairy farmer can succeed without healthy and content cows. Farmers recognize that good animal welfare practices lead to the production of high-quality, safe and wholesome milk, and they’re constantly seeking ways to improve the comfort of their animals.
Dairy cows are indeed the stars of the farm, and they are treated as such. Maintaining a healthy and comfortable herd of cows is job number one. Dairy cows receive regular visits from veterinarians, and farmers work to assure their cows’ comfort. Many dairy farms feature bedding made of white sand that makes for a clean and cool area where the cows can rest. Large barns provide shade from the India sun, and the combination of fans and sprinkler systems produce a cool mist. Farmers also make sure cows have their hooves trimmed, something they call a “cow pedicure.” Cows have all-day access to fresh water, and an animal dietitian creates diets to assure a cow gets exactly what it needs to function at its best and produce wholesome milk.