The Story of Milk

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The Story of Milk

• By Audrey Harmon

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Dairy farmers keep their cows healthy by making
sure they have plenty of grass and hay to eat.
Healthy cows produce healthy milk.
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Dairy operators must keep exact records on milk
production, feed, and labor costs. Ear tags are
important so that the farmer can track a cows
milk production and health records.
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The farmer will milk the cows at least twice a
day. The cattle enter the barn in a line. They
will come into the barn in almost the same order
each time.
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The cattle will enter the barn and go into a
holding area until it is their turn to be milked.
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Most dairies are automated. Gates open and close
without the aid of humans and even assist in
moving the cows along.
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Some farmers milk their cows by hand while others
use a milking machine. Once the cows are in the
stall, their udders are washed and the milking
machine is attached.
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Milking machines can milk one cow in about five
minutes. Milking machines allow the farmer to
milk faster and to keep everything cleaner and
more sanitary.
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After the cow is milked, its udder is washed,
again. Then iodine is put on the udder to keep
it healthy.
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After the cows are milked the stalls are washed
before the next group enters.
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After the cow is milked, the milk is cooled and
stored in a stainless steel tank until it is time
for it to go to a milk processing plant.
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When it is time to take the milk to a processing
plant, a stainless steel tank truck comes to the
farm and pumps the milk from the cooling tank.
The tank keeps the milk cool during the trip to
the processing plant.
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When the milk arrives at the plant, workers take
it and make many delicious, healthy things to eat
and drink. Some of these include