Dairy cows produce more milk for heifers than for baby bulls, according to new research from Kansas State University and Harvard University.
Researchers studied lactation records for more than one million dairy cattle across the country.
Their findings contradicted evolutionary biology theories that predicted bias was in favor of sons. The cows actually produced more milk for their female offspring.
“Daughters seemed to have the most dramatic effect on the initial development of the mammary gland because the bias against sons was greatest in the first lactation,” said K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry associate professor Barry Bradford.
The study also found that the sex of the first baby might determine the amount of milk produced for the following children.
The results were available in the scientific journal PLOS One.
RanchHER is gearing up for a season on RFD-TV, and host FarmHER TV Kirbe Schnoor is helping spread the news from NCBA Cattle Con!
February 14, 2024 12:05 PM
·
February 12, 2024 11:34 AM
·
February 09, 2024 02:59 PM
·
February 09, 2024 10:34 AM
·
John Deere representative Kaylene Ballesteros took RanchHer host, Janie Johnson, on a tour of the company’s exciting, new offerings at NCBA CattleCon in Orlando.
February 05, 2024 12:54 PM
·
RanchHer celebrated the invaluable contributions women leading the beef industry at their panel, “Your Path to Becoming a RanchHer,” Friday at NCBA CattleCon.
February 02, 2024 03:31 PM
·
“Where The Food Comes From” visits M&B Products, a milk bottling plant in Temple Terrace, FL (a suburb of Tampa) with its farm in Lecanto, operated by the McClellan family. Get ready for a lesson in everything from milk bottling, to dairy nutrition, and bovine reproduction!
January 25, 2024 03:00 PM
Would you believe it’s possible to have a dairy barn where all you smell is clean fresh country air? Leon McLellan of M&B Products in Temple Terrace, FL shows us how!
January 24, 2024 03:00 PM
If chocolate milke doesn’t come from brown cows (and strawberry milk certainly doesn’t come from pink ones), then where does it come from? Get the scoop!
January 24, 2024 10:00 AM
