How Does a Dairy Farmer Spend a Workday?
Ensuring Safety and Security on a Dairy Farm Successful dairy farmers start each day near sunrise to attend to each cow’s early morning needs. After the first milking of the morning, a dairy farmer spends time checking fences and gates to ensure the security of employees and livestock. These security precautions keep out wild animals who may attack grazing cows in the early morning. Throughout the day, a dairy farmer keeps a close eye on deliveries and employee traffic. The narrow profit margin for dairy products means that an outgoing shipment with missing milk can lead to lost money. Larger farms feature automated gates, cameras and security houses to preserve their investments in cows and milking equipment. Creating a Comfortable Environment for Cows While the classic image of the dairy cow involves a lot of grazing and sleeping, dairy farmers can attest to the hours needed each day to keep cattle healthy. According to “Dairy Farming Today,” the average cow can drink up to 50 gallon
