UK dairy cover girl just one sign of milking excellence

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has more than 100 cows at its dairy near the Lexington campus. A calf from the herd currently is gracing the cover of the world's premiere dairy farm trade publication, Hoard's Dairyman.

Calf #420, also known as UK Cody Beaver Capri, is just a small glimpse into the regionally recognized herd.

"We were honored to be on this cover," said William Silvia, professor and dairy coordinator for the UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences. "Farmers across the nation read that publication, but it's more than that. It's just one small way of showing the quality of our dairy herds here at UK."

Silvia said the dairy currently has 119 milking cows including three breeds - Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred. In July, the Holstein-Friesian Associations of the southeastern states recognized the UK herd as the top-ranking herd in Kentucky and one of the top herds in the region. In August, the dairy received the Kentucky Dairy Production Award for the highest milk production per cow by a herd comprised of mixed breeds.

"These awards certainly are a testament to the fact that we're doing some things right," Silvia said. "Joey Clark does a great job managing the herd."

The dairy is used to being the cream of the crop, as it also won the Kentucky Dairy Production Award in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for the Jersey herd's milk production.

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