Authors Note The following pages include information on the dairy industry for creating a lesson plan.

This information is also available on my website and Facebook page. I will continue to add information, so check for updates.

California Dairies alifornia has four main regions! oastal, "ountain, #esert and entral $alley regions. The ma%ority of dairies are located in the entral $alley in alifornia with a few in the oastal, "ountain and #esert regions. In Tulare ounty &'()* figures+ for instance, dairy is the top crop with an estimated value of ,',(*-,./0,((( followed by cattle and calves at ,0*-,*((,(((, naval oranges, ,*.*,1)/,(((, table grapes, ,*21,''.,((( and silage corn, ,'(/,-.(,(((. Breeds Dairy cows come in all colors. In California, there are six different breeds of dairy cows. The most common breed is the black and white Holstein, which is the highest milk producing cow in the world. Other popular breeds include !ersey, "rown #wiss, $uernsey, %yrshire and &ilking #horthorn. Milk Content &ilk from $uernsey, !ersey and "rown #wiss cows are high in butterfat content. %yrshire and &ilking #horthorn are able to efficiently con'ert grass into milk. $uernsey milk also has an exceptionally high content of beta carotene, which is a great source of 'itamin %. California Common Core Standards Jargon specific to the dairy industry: Dairy producer3farmer Heifer3female cow that hasnt given birth Dairy calf3can be male or female Milking machine3a machine that is attached to the cows udder to remove milk Alley((walking area for cattle within a barn such as a loafing alley, feeding alley or cross alley )walkway* from a barn to the milking parlor Alley Scraper((a +,+ shaped mechanical blade that is dragged o'er an alley to mo'e the manure Antibiotic-a drug gi'en to cows to kill disease Bedding((&aterial used to absorb moisture and pro'ide cushion for the cows((possible bedding materials include straw, sawdust, wood chips, sand, ground limestone, separated manure solids, shredded newspaper, corn stalks, bark, peanut, sunflower, almond, and rice hulls. Bulk Tank((a refrigerated, stainless steel tank where the milk is cooled .uickly to /01

/234 and stored until a truck takes it to the milk plant Bunka feed trough for cattle Downer Cow((a cow unable to rise due to disease or in5ury Dry Cow-a cow that is not lactating )producing* milk after it has completed a lactation cycle following cal'ing Fresh Cow((a cow that has recently gi'en birth to a calf Dry Lot((an open lot that may be co'ered with concrete Freestalls((resting cubicles or +beds+ where dairy cows are free to enter and lea'e, as opposed to being confined in stanchions or pens

California Co on Core Standards Ideas for Dairy Debate Is milk important4 5hich is better, organic or non6organic dairy farms4 Is urban encroachment dangerous to agriculture4 7hould dairies use automated milking parlors4 5ould you want to be a farmer4 Other topics for Debate 7hould agriculture or housing be in flood 8ones4 5ho gets irrigation water4 7hould everyone be allowed to drill a well4 7hould water be moved out of its county4 ebsites for additional California dairy information !acebook for teachers and parents https!99www.facebook.com9fromthefarmtothetable Data per county for top fi"e agricultural commodities http!99www.cfbf.com9 F:F9 ountyFarm:ureaus9 F:F9 ountyFarm:ureaus9#efault.asp ;4hkey<c0)*1ba262a*06*1b'6a1d)6)c'1aea'0)2( Mobile dairy classroom http!99www.healthyeating.org9schools9mobile6dairy6classroom.asp;

Dairy Council of California http!99www.healthyeating.org9 Commodity !act Sheet http!99www.cfaitc.org9factsheets9pdf9#airy.pdf