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“It’s just something innate in me about being a farmer; you’re caring for that baby animal. Watching it grow, seeing it mature each day, and become a beautiful milking cow, is something really special.”

Daphne Holterman
Dairy Farmer

Name: Daphne Holterman
Location: Watertown, Wisconsin
Years farming: I’ve been farming for 30 years.
My family: Lloyd is my husband and business partner here at Rosy-Lane Dairy. Lauren is 19, and a freshman at UW Madison, majoring in food science; her career path may include making ice cream from her cows’ milk. Taylor is 17, and attends Watertown High School.
How I came to be a farmer: I grew up on a beef and hog farm, went to UW Madison in agricultural journalism, met many dairy students there and married Lloyd. I worked in ag and food communications for 13 years before farming full-time.
The best thing about being a farmer: Working outdoors and caring for animals every day. A few farm meetings sprinkled in here and there, and working with a staff that enjoys doing the same things we do.
My personal philosophy on farming: It’s very much the same as my philosophy on life – what can I do today to make the world a better place? Each decision we make on the farm focuses on the cows. When they are pampered, they perform, and the farm will be profitable over the long term. That allows us to grow our business – in quality as well as quantity – and invest in new equipment and technologies that make the farm efficient, which allows it to prosper and be ready to support future generations who will continue to care for the land and animals.

Dairy Production in Wisconsin and the United States

• There are 1,260,000 dairy cows in Wisconsin.
• The average number of dairy cows per Wisconsin farm is 98.
• On average, a dairy cow produces 6.7 gallons of milk per day, or 206 gallons of milk per month.
• Milk was adopted as the state beverage in 1987 because Wisconsin is a leading milk-producing state.
• One 8 oz serving of low fat milk has 30 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium, and 25 percent of the vitamin D, as well as other vitamins.
• Chocolate milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk.
• It is recommended that children age 4 - 8 consume three servings of dairy per day, while children age 9 - 18 need four.
• Milk, cheese and yogurt have been proven to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. And recent research suggests a calcium-rich and low-fat dairy diet may actually lower the risk of obesity.

For more information about dairy farming in Wisconsin, please visit:  http://www.DairyDoingMore.org/

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