NORTH COLLINS, N.Y. (WKBW) — Dave Phillips and his wife Ann own a dairy farm in North Collins. They say high quality milk comes from well cared for cows, and since calves grow up to be cows that produce milk, what better place to start explaining what happens on a dairy farm — than the moo-ternity ward.
There are upwards of 90 cows, within three weeks of having babies, on the Phillips Family Farm. He says they average between four and five calves a day being born. On a particularly busy day they can welcome up to 12 new calves in a 24-hour period. Once they are born, it is off to the nursery barn.
About twice a day the calf manager will come through and fill the white buckets with milk for the calves. In about two months, when they are ready, the calves will start to get feed. That's a sure sign they are ready to leave the nursery.
Farmer Dave Phillips says caring for the calves involves not just feeding but also healthcare. Calf specialists take care of the ones that are sick and administer vaccinations.
They also make sure the barn is clean and comfortable in all weather.
When heifers are two years old they will be ready to have calves of their own.
Farmer Dave says, "If we don’t care for these animals in the best way possible - 24/365 - we compromise our standard of living, not only for the animals but for ourselves."
So #precious 😍
— AM Buffalo (@am_buffalo) March 21, 2022
It's #NationalAgWeek and @EmilyLampa takes us to a local #dairyfarm! #WorkingIt
An inside look at the important work farmers do to get food from #FarmToTable! Tune in all this week at 10a@AmericanDairyNE#AgDay22 pic.twitter.com/8XlybB8lQL
He adds, "That’s how we make it through life. It’s our contribution to society in general...making food."
