The rule to be observed in this stable at all times, toward the cattle, young and old, is that of patience and kindness. A man's usefulness in a herd ceases at once when he loses his temper and bestows rough usage. Men must be patient. Cattle are not reasoning beings. Remember that this is the Home of Mothers. Treat each cow as a Mother should be treated. The giving of milk is a function of Motherhood; rough treatment lessens the flow. That injures me as well as the cow. Always keep these ideas in mind in dealing with my cattle.
-W.D. Hoard, founder of Hoard's Dairyman
Catching some rays while lounging in the sand--it's like going to the beach!
Cow Comfort
At Ocooch Dairy we strive to create an atmosphere where our animals are treated with gentleness and patience and where they are comfortable and content. We provide our cows with freestall barns where sand bedding, sprinklers, and fans keep them cool in the summer and curtains and doors protect them from blustery winter winds. In freestall barns our cows have free-choice over when they want to get up and eat and drink or when they want to lay down and catch a little r & r. Cows at Ocooch Dairy are fed TMR (total mixed ration) daily, providing them with a diet that is uniquely formulated to meet their specific needs.
Calf jackets, straw bedding, and good nutrition are the keys to success for calves during Wisconsin winters!!
Calf care
On a cold day our calves can be found adorned with jackets and snuggled deep in dry, fluffy straw, protected from the elements by their hutches. When the summer heat comes along they are kept cool and comfortable with sawdust bedding, open windows, and bricks propping the backs of their hutches up for extra ventilation. Calves on our farm are fed pasteurized whole milk three times a day and have access to fresh water and grain throughout the day.
