DID YOU KNOW?
A female cow is called a heifer until
she has her first baby
The calf gestation period is nine months
A cow must produce a calf to
continue milking
The male bulls are sold, and the
owners keep all the females
BENEFITS OF FRESH
GRASS
Best source of natural beta-carotene
and vitamins D & E
Fresh milk has a creamier
texture and a fresh, sweet taste
Natural digestive
benefits for the cows
40GASPARILLA ISLAND September/October 2018
“It's unfortunate, but hundreds of dairy
farmers have been put out of work in Florida
over the last 10 years," Dakin said. "It's sustainable,
but it's a 24/7 business and that can be a
challenge at times."
Cameron, Farren and Jerry Dakin own the
three remaining dairy farms in Manatee county,
and are amongst the fewer than 150 dairies
remaining in Florida.
“Our family has been milking cows in
Manatee County, Florida since 1973,” Dakin
said.
Each year the owners look for new
sustainable ways to recycle and reuse natural
resources on the farm. They’re getting close to
a major achievement – transforming the farm’s
methane gas accumulated into electricity.
“We are committed to using environmentally
sustainable practices and state-of-the-art methods.
We are also committed to promoting the
education of the public about dairy farming and
the nutritional benefits of milk,” said owner Jerry
Dakin.
Due to the popularity of soy, nut and other
protein based drinks, people are buying less natural
milk.
DID YOU KNOW?
Different cheeses take
different amounts of
aging time:
Mild: about 6 months
Sharp: about 12-18 months
The process from culture
to stretch is about 4 hours.
Whey is a protein that is
separated in milk. It is used as a
by-product of cheese making.
Dakin Farms makes a little
over 2 tons of cheese a week.