CALIFORNIA, Chapter 15

California Cows Are Happy Cows!

The average dairy farm in the United States has 133 cows. Throughout the U.S., 52% of all cows live on large dairy farms, defined as those raising 500 or more cows, with the average being 1,481 cows on the 500+ cow farms.

In Wisconsin, the average dairy farm has 88 cows, only 21% of cows live on dairy farms with 500 or more cows, and the average sized herd on the larger farms is 946 cows.

In Pennsylvania, the average dairy farm has 66 cows, only 10% of cows live on dairy farms with 500 or more cows, and the average herd on the larger farms has 815 cows.

In South Dakota, the average dairy farm has 123 cows, only 26% of cows live on dairy farms with 500 or more cows, and the average herd on the larger farms is 881 cows.

How does California rate?
In 2007, over 90% of cows lived on dairy farms with more than 500 cows, and the average herd on the larger farms was 1,656 cows.

90% of cows grazing on dairy farms with an average 1,656 cows apiece? I doubt if they're out to pasture, and surely not one or two in the pasture as the "Happy Cow" campaign suggests.

California Cows Are Happy Cows?

According to Unhappy Cows.com, "California's dairy cows are crammed into huge lots, where they live covered in mud and their own feces for most of their miserable lives. They are pumped full of drugs to keep them producing such unnatural amounts of milk that their udders often become swollen and infected. They are forcefully impregnated every year to keep them producing milk, and their male babies often end up chained by their necks in veal creates before being slaughtered at just 16 weeks old."

In South Dakota, agriculture is the leading industry, with livestock production an important part of that industry. In 2004, agriculture accounted for $17.8 billion , and livestock production made up $5.7 billion of that total.

Cattle grazing, South Dakota

According to Ag United, "South Dakota has an abundance of land, feed resources, and dedicated farm families to continue to be a national leader in livestock production. Many families are welcoming home high-school and college graduates who want to return to the farm. With farm land prices at record highs, livestock production is a more feasible way to incorporate returning children and their young families into the family farm."

In 2004, South Dakota farmers and ranchers raised 1.74 million feeder cattle.

Farmer-owned South Dakota soybean processors produce 620,000 tons of soybean meal and 11 South Dakota ethanol plants produce 1.3 million tons of distiller's grains annually.

One milk cow will eat 3 tons of hay and 1,460 pounds of distiller's grains over the course of a year.

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Old_West
www.andnowawordfromoursponsor.wordpress.com/200608/
www.unhappycows.com
www.lavidalocavore.org/show/Dairy.do?dairyld=929