One of the main reasons I’ve been cutting dairy out of my life is due to the treatment of the cows. I went to a farm once before when I was really little, but all I can remember is that it smelled pretty pungent. The Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn gave me a chance to see first hand how this particular dairy bar is run.

Once the other Rose Scholars and I got to our destination, that familiar, intense smell wafted out of the barn and just about singed off my eyebrows.  All the dairy cows were in a line and being prepared for a milking.  Our tour guide informed us that the suction cups placed on the cows apply about the same pressure as a nursing calf.  There is also a disinfectant and moisturizer applied to the teats prior to milking.

After the milking station were the more permanent residences for the cows.  They were complete with backscratching machines, lines of food, and individual pens for the animals.  While the sleeping quarters for each individual cow looked pretty small, they opened to a much larger space, so the animals did not appear claustrophobic.

At the end of our tour, we were able to pet calves, which each had their own, small covered pen outside of the dairy farm.  Petting them was cathartic in a way, and I also got some really awesome close-ups of them.

I still think harvesting another mammal’s milk is pretty weird, but I was relieved to see that at least Cornell seems to treat its dairy cows well.

Last week we had a chance to visit the Cornell Dairy teaching barn to tour the facility that houses Cornell Dairy’s main operations. We were given a delightful tour by an animal science graduate student who walked us through the general day-to-day workings of a functioning dairy facility. Many aspects of the dairy industry are viewed by some as nefarious due to welfare/ethical concerns and are thus stigmatized (something that was brought up by the tour guide). The Cornell facility, however, seeks to counter some of this negative light through education on what a properly run dairy barn should look like. The cows all seemed very relaxed–some even quite curious–and all of them were at all times happily chewing their specialized tailored food-blend that is optimized for both health and milk production. My favorite portion of the visit–and I’m sure it was a sentiment shared by many–was the tour of the calf pens. The calves were incredibly adorable and far more sociable than their mature counterparts, and they seemed delighted to have visitors. Overall, the trip was very unique and insightful. As someone who consumes products from Cornell Dairy daily, it was certainly valuable to be able to see where this dairy comes from and to learn more about the science behind milk production here at Cornell.

I loved visiting the dairy barn last week!

I didn’t realize we were actually going there. For some reason I thought that we were going to the dairy bar. I was super excited to see where we ended up instead! It was so much fun to have a close look at the dairy cows. It was neat to see the way that they milked the cows. I just assumed that cows were all milked by hand. Instead there was a nifty machine that milked five cows at once.

The cows were very curious, and the calves were adorable! There were so many of them too.

Apparently, the cows like the temperature to be a bit cold. The barn is a bit chilly, and they have massive fans to keep air circulating during the summer. Cows are also very warm, like space heaters if you lean up against them. So, if I’m lost in the winter, all I have to do is find a cow and I’ll be good to go. Moo.

Last Saturday, I visited the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn for the first time. I think a couple Rose Scholars were expecting a trip to the dairy bar, but this was definitely not the same. Isabelle, a CALS alumna and current vet student, showed us around the place. We first entered near the milking station. I didn’t quite play attention to how the cows were placed into their stations, but I thought it was interesting how well-behaved they all seemed to be. She told us about the process of milking, and how someone uses iodine to disinfect before attaching them to the main machine. The RFID tagged cows also have their milking history stored in their system, so they can keep track of how they’re doing.

We then moved along to see where the cows resided when not being milked. Along the way, we saw a cow with a cannula. In the cab ride over, we talked a little bit about what we were hoping to see. One person mentioned wanting to milk a cow, but I had said that it would be an interesting experience to stick my arm into one of those cow holes. We didn’t end up getting to do that, but that’s definitely something I’d be into trying sometime. Isabelle said that the force exerted can actually be quite strong.

She talked about how the area was set up, such that sand and bars were placed so that cows would preferably lay down in a certain position, such that their feces wouldn’t end up in the sand, making clean-up easier. She also said that from experience, their sand beds can be quite comfortable.

We also got to see a couple of calves that were just a few hours old. We learned that they were separated from their moms by a fence, because cows can step on their young unintentionally. We also learned that cows like to eat placenta, even if it’s from another cow. We then got to see where the older calves stayed. We ended off with learning a little about their feedstock.

The whole experience was definitely interesting. As someone who has never been interested in vet work myself, it was definitely a unique experience for me. One of my hallmates freshmen year was an animal science major who came from a family who raised cows. I remember her having to go to the barn to do overnight shifts wearing her coveralls, so I was at least prepared enough to wear boots on the day of. Overall, I just thought it was a fun experience to see more first-hand what animal science students much more regularly. They get to experience what they’re learning about too, and I’m glad that Cornell provides what I think is a valuable learning experience and that I was able to get a glimpse of what goes on there.

The teaching dairy farm is simply amazing. Even though I had to skip my fencing meeting as well as brunch for it, it was totally worth it. I don’t think anyone outside of the animal science students have been to the barn, so it felt like I was entering a secret hangout place for students.

Although the initial breather of the barn was a rude awakening from my days in my family farm, it quickly became quite endearing as time went on. Our guide explain the sour smell in the air is also a product of the food cows eat which include bacteria as it is fermenting the feed. It kind of smelled like Kimchi or the preserved Chinese pickles which I do enjoy.

Watching all the cows get milked and fed was very interesting. I didn’t expect so much machinery to be involved. I thought since it is a teaching farm, most of the milking would be done by hand. Then again, there were so many cows so I guess it isn’t feasible. I didn’t think the farm would consider profit as a part of its system, but I guess it still have to be a farm even though it is mostly for students.

Seeing all the cows and calves that are soo cute reminded me of the days back in the farm in China. In our little village we raised chicken and pigs and such, the one cow was actually half blind and not the same species as the dairy cows. Due to the result of industrialization and consumerism, our little farm actually became a tourist resort and all the little dogs and chickens and pigs disappeared and are replaced by peacocks and boars for the tiny zoo. Sigh.

I came back from the farm with a heavy heart as the parting words was the grad student guide telling us, most of these cows live to about 7 or 8, then they change careers to be sent to the butchers. Now I’m just lost, such wonderful creatures. Only my condolences.

I learned a lot of interesting facts about dairy cattle during my visit to the Cornell Dairy teaching barn. There are several different types of cow: the classic black and white spotted cows are Holsteins, while Jersey cows are smaller and brown. Holstein cows and Jersey cows produce milk which is chemically distinct. I also learned a lot about dairy farming practice.

The cows at the Cornell Dairy teaching barn live in a relatively spacious enclosure. They have sand beds they can lie down in – apparently the cows are somewhat territorial, and they don’t like when another cow sleeps in their bed.  The floors in the barn were grooved, to help the cows get traction so they won’t slip or injure themselves.

I also learned that dairy calves are separated from their mothers soon after birth. According to the vet student leading the tour, dairy cattle are not known to be excellent moms. The calves are moved to individual enclosures outside the barn for several weeks – think a large doghouse with a pen in front – before being sent on to a calf raiser or an auction.

Prior to this trip, I believed that cows were timid animals. The cows at the dairy barn, however, were curious about our presence, sticking their heads through the bars to try to reach us. It was also interesting to observe the cows’ behavior.

I must say that visiting the Dairy Barn made me feel a little…icky. Obviously, I was aware of how milk was produced before, and I didn’t see any mistreatment of the cows – but I cannot say that I am completely comfortable with dairy production.

Having seen baby cows, I can confirm that they are essentially giant puppies. Even if dairy production doesn’t necessarily seem cruel, we’re still treating cows in a way we would never treat dogs, and I’m not comfortable with that. It was especially sad for me thinking about male calves being sold off as beef cattle – the dairy and beef industries are related, so not eating meat doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not supporting meat production if you still consume dairy.

Visiting the Cornell dairy barn also prompted me to think about the wider dairy industry, and to consider whether other dairies follow similar practices and have the same standards for animal welfare. It’s definitely an important issue to consider, given that dairy is in so many products that we consume.

Full-disclosure: I attended this event primarily because I assumed I would get the opportunity to milk a cow for the first time (Spoiler: I didn’t get to do it). I have lived in large cities or surrounding suburbs my entire life. I hope this is sufficient to convey my disappointment at not having milked my first cow on this expedition to the Cornell dairy barn.

However, I learned a lot about cows and the dairy industry. For instance, I had no idea that most of the cow breeding that happens within diary barns, throughout the US, happens through artificial insemination. I guess I should have seen that coming, seeing has how male calves are castrated at a very young age and raised as beef cattle. I learned about the maintenance that happens within dairy barns to ensure that milk obtained is safe for consumption, as well as other fun-facts about how to care for calves — they are absolutely adorable! (Picture of brown calf attached  for reference.) To top off the trip, I was very amused by the backscratcher (which is the bright yellow brush in another attached picture) for the cows, which is located above their drinking water.

I had a very pleasant experience overall, after the initial disappointment dissipated (haha, just kidding). I probably learned more about cows than I’ll ever need to know in my lifetime. I hope the readers enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed staring at these mystical, previously-only-seen-in-textbooks (or their movies), creatures.

My favorite animal used to be cows; all my old usernames would have some version of “cow” in it actually! That being said, I was very excited to hear about the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn event. It was a very engaging time that I think everyone who didn’t go should be jealous of. I think the best part of the event was how passionate our guide was, her energy transferred to us and made us excited even though it was cold, wet, and muddy. She talked so casually about helping cows give birth and perform c-sections. I am definitely glad we we had the opportunity to interact with her on this trip. The cows were much more docile than I expected them to be and we even got to see the cows being milked live.

The tour of the entire facility was simple and informative, I only wish I had worn better footwear instead of my slippers. There were different parts to the facility: a birthing area, outside apartments for the calves, a dry area (for cows not being milked), a feeding area, and a rest area. It was hard to believe that it was so organized and actually clean, far from what I expected.

I really did enjoy this event but it was not what I expected from the event description. I thought it would involve us seeing how the dairy products were made or maybe even some tasting, but this was a good surprise too!

Last Sunday, I was able to visit the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn with fellow Rose scholars. I was excited about this event because it was an opportunity to venture away from the places I usually frequent on campus. I had always heard that the milk we drink in the dining halls comes from the cows at our dairy barn, but I didn’t realize how close they actually were. I honestly went in with the expectation that we would be able to see the cows from far away and attend more a lecture like activity. However, as we entered, we were able to see dozens of cows no more than 2 feet away from us!

The veterinary student who was our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about everything regarding the cows and the facility. She explained how there are 150 cows (and 56% of them are pregnant)  in the facility on average and they rotate between laying on their “beds”, eating, and milking throughout the day. Because the cows produce 9 gallons of milk on average per day, it is no surprise that they need to consume pounds and pounds of food to keep up.

We were able to watch the cows enter the milking facility and place themselves in their individual milking stations (they do this on their own)! While at the stations, an employee attaches a machine similar to a suction cup to the cows and once the machine calculates that it has received the right amount of milk, it disengages from the cows. Watching this was very fascinating because I didn’t realize how much engineering went into making the process more streamlined.

Once we left the milking facility, we were able to see where the cows eat and sleep, and finally, we were able to see all the babies that had been recently born! Overall, this was probably the best event I have attended!

On Saturday I took a trip to the teaching Dairy Barn about a mile past the vet school, and it was definitely one of the coolest things I have done on campus. I learned so many things that I did not know before and saw the cutest calves I had ever seen. Did you know one cow makes about 90 lbs of milk a day? There is so much I learned about a part of our own school. Cows are pretty neat, and the entire milking process is fascinating, but the best part was seeing the baby cow that had been born only hours earlier, and the funny way the cows act. I highly recommend going if you ever get the chance. The tour guide was amazing and the whole tour was informative and fun. Definitely a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

This week I attended a tour of the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn which was absolutely fascinating. Our guide had a ton of knowledge on the workings of the farm and the techniques farmers use to provide for their cows. It was good to hear the seriousness that sanitation is considered with: before/after milking the cows are disinfected and the milk is inspected to monitor the health of the cow.

I was surprised at how little the difference was between pregnant cows and non-pregnant cows: since calves are at most 100 pounds and fully grown cows are 1300-1600 pounds, being pregnant has minimal impact on their gait. Another thing I didn’t expect was how early the calves are separated from their mothers: our guide mentioned that in general dairy cows aren’t known for their mothering ability, and so because of infection and other risks the calves are moved to individual “apartments” that they stay in for 2-3 weeks. They were all very cute, wearing their winter jackets and everything.

One thing I regret not asking about while I was there was what veterinary students think about the ethics of farming in general. What I saw while I was there was generally good (the cows seemed happy, clean, etc. maybe a bit cramped) but I’m not sure if this is just because the farm we were at is a teaching facility. I’d like to have asked about industry standards, what the ethical difference is (if any) between meat and dairy, etc.

I’m really glad I went on the tour through the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn this weekend. This was one of those activities that I otherwise would have never done during my four years at Cornell. The milk we have in our dining halls comes from the very cows we visited. The veterinarian student who led the tour was extremely knowledgable about cows, the milking process, and necessary medical procedures.

Only about 2% of America’s population live in farms. I grew up in the suburbs and the farms nearby were more of the fruit-picking variety or horse farms. I also visited a small farm in Ireland but the grass-fed, hand-milked cows there were much different than the ones we saw here. The Cornell Dairy Barn had very efficient processes to milk their 148 cows as well as other aspects of the cow’s well-being like food, rest, and even an instrument for self-scratching! More than anything, this experience really made me realise the amount of work and research that is conducted to optimise milk production while maintaining humane treatment. Plus, we got to pet the calfs and take a lot of great pictures! 

Today, April 14, I was able to go the dairy barn. Although I have heard about the diary barn, I have never taken the time to go there. My time there was a very pleasant one. Through, the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn, I learned some interesting facts about the way the cows at Cornell are feed and housed. For one thing, the metabolic process of the cows require a lot of energy. The energy used is about the same energy a human being uses to jog a long distance. Since their metabolic process requires at lot of energy, they need to eat a lot of food.

Another thing I learned, was that the sand beds are designed in a way that allows the cows to remain as clean as possible. One thing that add to my overall experience was seeing the baby calfs. I thought the calfs to be really adorable.