Monday, November 25, 2013

Thank A Dairy Cow

thanksgiving thankafarmer thankadairycow
Yes, we should all be thankful. From the joy of the heated seats in your car to the smile on your children's faces when you fluff their pillows each night we are thankful (and that proves I do read your 30 Days of Thankful Facebook posts). But what should you really be thankful for???

We have many things to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving. Some say you should thank a farmer for all your good food with food thanks, but I have to remind you that behind every successful farmer stands a very good cow. I ask why not thank a dairy cow?

How about
  • Tall glasses of milk
  • Butter for your bread
  • Cheese to make your dishes extra tasty
  • Real dairy creamer for your coffee
  • Ice cream Ice cream Ice cream
  • And whipped cream on your pumpkin pie
How can you show your gratitude towards me? That's so easy, but don't wait until the last minute. Go out and buy some dairy products today!

dairy cows buy milk now

Agent 101, reporting from the Udder Side.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Milk For Skin and Beauty

The Farmer's wife hosted a makeup party Friday night and, you guessed, we were conveniently left off the guest list. Seriously? A farmer's wife doesn't invite the cows to a party for girls? Did she think we couldn't eat finger foods nicely? Did she think we were not potty trained and would leave, ahem, presents, on the floor in the house? Well, well, well.

Who needs makeup, anyway, when you look this good au naturel.

Supper time.

How do we get to be looking so pretty, you ask? Why bless your heart, honey, you know it has to be the milk! If you don't believe me you need to read Uses For Milk: 11 Nifty Ways To Lifehack Dairy. You'll find milk can do more than make for strong teeth and bones. It can also:
  • Be a facial mask
  • Sooth itchy skin or sunburn
  • Be a hand cleaner
  • Remove makeup
And those are just some of the wonderful ways you can use our delicious milk for your skin and beauty needs. Do the dairy and be naturally beautiful!

Agent 468, reporting from the Udder Side.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Happy Movember Dairy, Farmers!

Oh, farmers, I am always thankful, especially in this month of thanks, for the way you care for me. You feed me a balanced ration, make sure my vaccinations are up to date, and care for me when I'm sick. I also know you are glad when the veterinarian comes to do rectal palpations on me for herd health.

palpating a cow
Ryan Goodman practicing palpating a cow

Well, well, well. It looks like the rubber glove is on the other hoof today.


Today I am reminding you that it is Movember dairy. Isn't it time for your herd health? November is men's health month. Let's talk about prostate cancer which is a very manly topic.

Did you know:

  • Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, excluding skin cancer.
  • It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men.
  • A man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • More than 90% of all prostate cancers are discovered confined to or nearby the prostate. Men with prostate tumors diagnosed at these stages have a five year survival rate of nearly 100%.

Like them or hate them, Matt Lauer and Al Roker are getting prostate exams live on the Today show. Farmers you don't have to go to that extreme. Trust me, not even the cows want to see it. However, go see your doctor, get a check up, eat healthy (milk is an awesome drink, by the way!), and make it a habit. 

Learn more about Movember Dairy and like them on Facebook!

Agent 101, reporting from the Udder Side.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Facebook Farmer VS Google Circle Cows

So, The Farmer decided he was "important" enough that he needed a Facebook Fan Page.

My thoughts in a song:

You made a Facebook Fan Page about you
You're so vain.....

Where's the Dislike button at?

Courtesy of Sean MacEntee
Hopefully you won't be annoyed by photos of his kids and other boring things or be asked to join Candy Crush or whatever. So go like Farmer Bright's page, but we warned you not to first!

Now, if you want to be really cool then you'll go where the cool cows are and follow the Udder Side cows on Google +. 

Is this a war to see who gets the most followers, us or The Farmer? Let us not say it like that. But, okay, of course we want more than him. So, go follow us NOW!

The Follow Buttons are now on the right side of the page to make easy to do so.

Agent 101, reporting from the Udder Side.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Safety of Raw Milk

When you go to the grocery store does the manager remind you that you take a risk in eating the products you just bought? Are you promised or explained to that the groceries you purchased have magic-like properties or a hidden value that will be beneficial to you?

milk pitcher

Probably not.

Unfortunately, many people are duped into thinking they are getting something a little better when they purchase raw milk. The truth is that pasteurization does nothing to harm the milk and its inherent properties. There's no real scientific data to show otherwise.

Here's some data on raw milk from SUDIA:
Naturally occurring bacteria in raw milk can cause a number of illnesses including tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, listeriosis (spontaneous abortions in pregnant women), and food poisoning-like symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting.  In some cases, sickness can lead to longer-term negative health impacts such as kidney failure, paralysis, chronic disorders and even death.
The USDA and CDC also recommend pasteurization for safety and say the process does not affect the taste or quality of my milk. This isn't to say that everyone that drinks raw milk is going to get sick, but why do so when there is nothing to gain by it? Thus, my point is that there is no need to take any risk by consuming raw milk.

A Tennessee farm that sells raw milk recently had customers become sickened with E. coli.  While we have no idea what, if any, benefits this farm told their customers there were about raw milk, it is sad that those who became sick could have so easily avoided it.

You can buy milk at practically every gas station and grocery store around. It is safe, healthy, nutritious, and completely risk free. What more could you want?

Agent 101, reporting from the Udder Side.