June is National Dairy Month! While Waconia has become more suburban over the years, Waconia and much of Carver County have deep roots in dairy farming, and when Waconia Veterinary Clinic first started, the vast majority of our patients were dairy cows. At Waconia Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Shayne Marker and Dr. Kari Keehr provide veterinary care for the dairy herds in the area and are proud to help support the local dairy community!
We think it’s important to understand where your food comes from at the grocery store, and when possible, to support local farmers and producers in your community! To celebrate National Dairy Month, we wanted to provide some fun and educational facts about dairy farming.
Minnesota ranks 7th in the country for dairy production. Carver County ranks 25th for dairy milk sales in the state.
There are 7 main dairy cow breeds in the US – Holsteins are the most common and recognizable with their black and white coat. Other breeds include Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, Milking Shorthorns, and Red and Whites.
Milking cows typically consume around 100 pounds of feed each day and 30-50 gallons of water, and produce on average 6-7 gallons of milk per day!
While all dairy products start with milk, it can be made into a wide variety of products – this includes butter, cheese, cream, yogurt, ice cream, and more!
Many Minnesota counties have dairy princesses each year who are ambassadors for the dairy industry throughout the state. Each year, the county dairy princesses compete to be Princess Kay of the Milky Way and have their faces likeness sculpted in butter at the Minnesota State Fair. Since its inception in 1954, Carver County has had 3 Princess Kay winners!
This summer, continue supporting your community and the local dairy industry with an ice cream cone, a glass of milk, or some locally-made cheese!
