How a Cow Makes Milk
FAST FACTS1. A cow produces nearly 9500 litres of milk per year in BC2. A cow weighs between 600 – 750 kg (1400-1600 lbs) which is the size of approximately 8 grown men3. All dairy cows are female! Males are called bulls.4. Cows spend about 10 hours a day eating,…
Farm Tours
For info about farms that offer tours for groups of elementary school children, contact Lesley at 1-800-242-6455 or email at contactus@bcdf.ca.
Dairy Processors
BC Dairy Foundation works in cooperation with several dairy processors operating in the province of British Columbia. Dairy processors are the companies that convert raw milk into finished dairy products. These companies process more than 600 million litres of milk per year and produce a full range of dairy products, everything…
The Milking Process
Dairy cows are the happiest when they are on a predictable schedule for feeding, milking and cleaning. They are milked twice a day, sometimes three times a day, in a milking parlour It usually takes 5–8 minutes for each cow to be milked COOL FACT – Some cows enjoy music…
The All Natural Milk Machine
Cows are known as ruminant animals because they have a unique stomach system made up of 4 stomach compartments. This allows them to digest foods such as corn and hay, which animals with one stomach compartment, such as humans, would find very difficult to do. Each stomach compartment has a…
Seasonal Farming Activities Through the Year
A year-long seasonal calendar of farming activities Spring: March 21 – June 20The fields are prepared for planting crops Cows play a key role in nutrient recycling. They eat the plants; then their manure is used to fertilize the plants so that the farmers can grow healthy crops to feed…
The Importance of Quality Milk
Milk Quality is Number 1There are a number of quality checks that milk must pass before it reaches your table. They begin right on the farm and continue until you pick up your milk at the store. Quality milk depends on everyone! BC has some of the highest standards for…
From Farm to Family
The process of producing milk Since 1827 dairy farmers in British Columbia have been an important force in shaping our communities. Today the dairy industry is the largest single component of BC agriculture. BC farmers use advanced techniques and follow strict standards for the production and harvesting of food crops.…
A Day in the Life of a Dairy Farmer
Ever wondered what it is like to be a dairy farmer? Imagine waking up one morning as a dairy farmer. What would your day be like? 5:00 am—Rise and shine! Cows need to be milked, fed and looked after in order to remain healthy, highly productive animals. Young calves (1-3 months…