USA - First Heifer Born at Nation's First University Organic Dairy
Published:December 15, 2006
Source :NewsWise
The University of New Hampshire’s organic research dairy farm, the nation’s first at a land-grant university, announces the birth of its first organic female calf. The Jersey heifer, born Dec. 12, 2006, is the first-born to mother May, a UNH Jersey bred at Molly Brook Farm in West Danville, Vt. The calf weighed 42 pounds and was 24 inches at the withers.
“She’s a beautiful, healthy calf, and May handled the birth like a pro,” said “Uncle” Charles Schwab, professor of animal and nutritional science at UNH. “We’re anticipating a busy month ahead, as 46 cows in the herd give birth and begin producing organic milk.”
The calf will be named by the highest bidder on an auction on eBay, with proceeds from the auction funding the UNH organic dairy project.
Proud godparents include major funders to the UNH organic dairy: Stonyfield Farm of Londonderry; Aurora Organic Dairy of Boulder, Colo.; Hannaford Bros. Supermarkets of Portland, Maine; Organic Valley of La Forge, Wis.; Newman’s Own Foundation of Westport, Conn.; and HP Hood of Chelsea, Mass. A registry for baby gifts will be established online at www.organicdairy.unh.edu. In lieu of diapers and strollers, the cows request contributions toward farm equipment and new facilities for their calves. UNH has raised half the project total of approximately $1.5 million.
Both May and her calf are resting comfortably at UNH’s Burley-Demerritt farm in Lee, site of the organic research dairy farm. A maternity and fresh cow barn has been renovated and a farm equipment building has been constructed. Planning and fundraising are in progress for a barn, state-of-the-art milking parlor and educational center. UNH will begin shipping organic milk in early January 2007.
About the UNH Organic Research Dairy: UNH, which launched its organic dairy in December 2005, is the nation’s first land-grant university to have an organic dairy farm. It provides much-needed education and science-based research for present and future organic dairy farmers while helping to secure the future of the Northeast’s farming heritage. Comprising 48 Jerseys of exceptional genetic quality, the farm is located on 200 certified-organic acres in Lee, about five miles from the center of campus.
