Dairy Farms Key Terms

Learn the terms for dairy farms job searches
By Darcy Chadwick Getting started in the dairy farms profession can appear daunting; after all, there are animals to take care of, and the goal is ultimately to make money from the livestock. You need to know the lingo about dairy milking machines, how best to provide for the herd of cattle and how to properly store the milk in compliance with codes and regulations. When you're starting in a career on a dairy farm, it's best to arm yourself with the latest terms.

Feed

Whether you're dealing with cows or horses, chickens or pigs, all livestock eat feed. This is a mixture of processed grains, mainly comprised of corn, and green foliage, such as alfalfa, that you plan to feed your dairy cattle. If you plan to mix up your own feed on site, it's best to invest in a feed grain elevator where you can store bulk quantities.
Try:  Learn more about feed and grain elevators through  Cyberspace Farm.

Bulk tank

This refrigerated tank holds the milk once it leaves the cow. When the milk trucks come to collect the milk and bring it to a processing plant, the truck connects a hose from the tank to the truck, draining all contents.
Try:  Research bulk tanks further by learning about temperature requirements at Dairy Farming Today.

Pipeline milking system

You need to know the type of milking system to use when starting a dairy farm. The most common is the pipeline milking system, which suctions the milk off the cow's teats into a pipeline that connects to the bulk tank. All the milk from the cows is sent here; there is no distinguishing one cow's milk from another's. The bucket milking system can allow this, as the milk from one cow is kept in a separate, portable container.
Try:  Check out more information on the types of milk machines and systems at Parts Dept.

National Dairy Herd Information Association

The National Dairy Herd Information Association helps dairy farmers with increasing their profit and their herd's production. By becoming a member of the DHIA, you have immediate assistance with record keeping for milk production. A subsidiary of the DHIA is the Dairy Herd Information Registry, which makes the records acceptable for specific breed organizations.
Try:  Learn more about the requirements for the National Dairy Herd Information Association straight from the source.

Dairy cattle breeds

With so many different types of dairy cattle to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed when starting your career. Let the Web sites' background information on each breed help you decide what suits your needs. Some of the more popular dairy cattle breeds include Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Guernsey.
Try:  Visit Oklahoma State University and its site about North American dairy breeds for more information.

Parlor

The parlor is the site where the dairy cattle are milked. With numerous types available, you should do plenty of research to determine which can work best with your herd and your barn. Some of the choices to sort through are herringbone, flat barn, walk-through, swing, parallel and rotary.
Try:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency offers a thorough explanation of the different types of parlors listed above.