Dairy farming

Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or more properly, an enterprise, raising female cattle for long-term production of milk, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy for processing and eventual retail sale. Most dairy farms sell the male calves borne by their cows, usually for veal production, rather than raising non-milk-producing stock. Many dairy farms also grow their own feed, typically including corn, alfalfa, and hay. This is fed directly to the cows, or stored as silage for use during the winter season. Additional dietary supplements are added to the feed to increase quality milk production.

Dairy farming in the world

In the United States, dairy farming is an important industry in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but the largest state in dairy production is California. In Europe, Denmark, northern France (particularly Normandy), Switzerland, and especially the Netherlands, are particularly known as centers of dairy production. The worlds largest exporter of dairy products is New Zealand which farms in a more efficient and animal friendly manner compared to Europe and the U.S.A. but is stifled by the trade barriers and tariffs imposed by these locations.

Related Topics:
United States - Vermont - Pennsylvania - Wisconsin - Minnesota - California - Europe - Denmark - France - Normandy - Switzerland - Netherlands

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