Crops & Livestock | Farm

For Florida Dairy Farmers, Keeping Cows Healthy Is a 24/7 Job

Florida dairy cattle
Located in Trenton, Alliance Dairies is home to nearly 10% of Florida’s cattle population and ships more than 90,000 gallons of milk a day. Photo credit: Todd Bennett

Tommy Watkins is a third-generation dairy producer managing two farms near Wauchula. He and his team stay busy around the clock milking 2,500 Holsteins twice every day. One of his biggest goals as a milk producer is to deliver a nutritious, safe product to consumers. To do that, he puts a strong focus on keeping his herd healthy. That includes a well-planned nutrition program, timely vaccinations, rigorous employee training and strict sanitation practices.

“Nutrition is the foundation of a cow’s health, in my opinion,” Watkins says. “We work with a nutritionist that visits the farm biweekly. But I’m on the phone with him every other day talking about what the cows are eating, how they’re eating and how well they’re producing milk.”

Adam Jackanicz, herd veterinarian for Alliance Dairies, says it’s in the best interest of producers to ensure animal health. “There is an obvious financial incentive since a healthy herd is more productive, but the reasons go beyond that,” he says. “We are delivering a food product to consumers, and healthy cows produce quality milk. Alliance Dairies ships over 90,000 gallons of milk per day – milk that our families drink.”

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Alliance Dairies CEO Jan Henderson
Alliance Dairies CEO Jan Henderson; Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Health and Comfort Go Hand in Hand

Judicious vaccination plays a crucial role in keeping cows healthy by preventing some of the significant illnesses affecting dairy cow productivity. Watkins has a veterinarian on call 24 hours a day to help care for his animals and ensure that all of his cows receive the appropriate vaccinations according to set protocols.

Similarly, Alliance Dairies incorporates animal health and well-being into every decision made on the farm. “At Alliance Dairies, we utilize things like vaccination protocols and nutrition experts that are traditionally associated with maintaining a healthy herd,” Jackanicz says. “Everything we do focuses on the goal of keeping cows healthy and comfortable. For example, our cropping operation chooses seed varieties and harvest practices to produce the best-quality feed possible. The construction crew utilizes building designs and materials that are cow-friendly. Even office staff play a part in herd health by supporting employees so that their attention can stay focused on our cows.”

“Dairy farming is a beloved way of life for our farmers, and taking proper care of their cattle is one of the main ways they ensure success for future generations.”

– Avery LeFils, industry relations manager, Florida Dairy Farmers

Florida dairy producers have an additional challenge to face when it comes to animal health: the weather. Heat and humidity can put a cow under extra stress, which in turn can affect her productivity. “Cows prefer a more temperate climate, so we put a lot of effort into cow cooling systems,” Jackanicz says.

For Watkins, the weather is always on his mind. “When the barn temperatures hit 66 degrees, our fans come on, and we mist water to keep our cows cool and comfortable,” he says. “Heat stress is a huge challenge, especially during the summer months when it’s 95 degrees with 95% humidity.”

Alliance Dairies, Trenton; Florida dairy cow health
Animal health and well-being are top priorities for all employees at Alliance Dairies. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Setting the Record Straight

Avery LeFils, industry relations manager with Florida Dairy Farmers, says that there continues to be a disconnect between consumers and dairy producers. She thinks the common perception of a dairy farm’s operations isn’t reality in many cases. “A lot of people think dairy cows spend the majority of their day in the milking parlor attached to the milking machine,” LeFils shares. “They think that cows don’t like being milked, but it’s really the opposite. A cow usually spends around four to six minutes, two or three times a day, depending on the farm, being milked. So, in an average day, that’s only about 15 minutes,” she says.

See more: Why Florida Is a Food Lover’s Paradise

Dairy Facts

Unfortunately, the media has spotlighted outlying acts of farm animal cruelty, and those scenes can make it more difficult for dairy producers to stand behind what they do. Jackanicz says one misconception he often hears is that large dairies mistreat their animals. As a veterinarian who cares for nearly 10% of Florida’s cattle population in his role at Alliance Dairies, he says that couldn’t be further from the truth. “It is an absolute myth that farm size correlates to animal welfare. The key is finding, training and retaining people that enjoy their work.”

Keeping cows healthy isn’t just a necessity for producers to maintain a successful and profitable operation. LeFils says dairy producers have chosen this lifestyle because they genuinely care about their animals, take pride in their work and want to see their cows living comfortably. “Dairy farming is a beloved way of life for our farmers, and taking proper care of their cattle is one of the main ways they ensure success for future generations,” she says.

See more: CARES Program Recognizes Florida Farmers and Ranchers for Outstanding Resource Management