Of the 220 cows about 170 are being milked on a given day. Each cow has about six weeks off each year when she is not milked. (Her well earned rest period!)
To produce milk, each year a cow must first have a calf. Whilst at Beechdean one of our girls could have up to eight calves.
Cows are very curious about everything. Jerseys are the most inquisitive of them all.
The gestation period is 9 months.
We have Jersey Cows since they produce the creamiest milk possible - ideal for our ice cream.
The girls graze outside from late March to October.
When not eating fresh Chiltern grass, the girls are fed a specially mixed menu. This is done in a giant food mixer that makes 3 tonnes of feed at a time.
Each house has special ventilation cubicles for each cow with mattresses, back scratches and special cleaning systems to keep the areas clean all the time.
The girls have sawdust on their beds over the winter which is changed twice a day.
Even as the cows get older they still love it when they can go back outside into the fields to graze each March. The heels being kicked up in excitement really is a sight to see!!