But in reality, dairy farming is still and always will be a family endeavor, with “99 percent of them family owned and operated - are as diverse as the landscape that serves as their backdrop, but all dairy farmers work hard everyday to provide safe, wholesome, and nutritious milk to the public.(The original author left a space between every and day)”(Kees Richard). Dairy farming is more than a job; it is a way of life. For the men and women who live and work on America’s 47,000 dairy farms this way of life is not only their past, but also their present and future. Many dairy farmers grew up on the same farm they live on today, and are following the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. Some farms have even been in the family for several generations, all of whom which have dedicated their lives to producing quality wholesome …show more content…
Through this commitment comes abounding changes and one of them is dairy production. Over the past 100 years the average cows milk production has increased over 75%. This is all possible thanks to countless new innovations as well as customizable “TMR’s” (total mixed rations) which provides the cow with all the nutrients needed to live a healthy productive life. “Hormone treatments are sometimes given to dairy cows in some countries to increase reproduction and to increase milk production” (Dairy Cattle). An artificially made hormone called rBST, can be intramuscularly injected into the cow, this natural hormone increases milk production by up to 10 lbs per day. The artificial hormone rBST is naturally produced in the cow and the injection is only an added amount. rBST is another form of a GMO (genetically modified organism). Some people believe that there are various negative effects from consuming the genetically modified milk, but with an ever increasing population the more milk produced per cow means less greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, it is just one way dairymen are fulfilling their goal of becoming more