A consortium of dairy industry leadership groups, supported by industry sponsors, is bringing the birth of dairy calves to life for consumers in Pennsylvania.
The Calving Corner Pennsylvania Dairy Cow Birthing Center is a live, daily feature at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, held each January in Harrisburg, Pa. The program brings in cows from partner dairies so spectators can witness the birth of a calf, live and in person. The project began in 2017 “to foster relationships between Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers and consumers by providing a unique educational experience at a live birthing center and through hands-on activities at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.”
The Calving Corner operators also strive to demonstrate to and educate consumers on how Pennsylvania’s dairy producers care for and nurture their dairy cows to ensure consistent, high-quality, healthy dairy products for consumers.
At the 2024 Pennsylvania farm show, four cows from each of four cooperating herds are expected to calve at the show, for a total of 16 calvings over the 8-day event. Organizers take great care to ensure both the cows and calving facilities are clean and comfortable. They emphasize stress-minimizing details like keeping the calving area quiet, and bringing feed from the cows’ home farms to the show.
Viewers have the opportunity to help name the calves, and can sign up to receive text updates at the show when calvings are imminent. Children also can participate in hands-on activities and experiments, and receive take-home mementos.
The Calving Corner is staffed by experienced herdsmen, a night caretaker, college interns, and dairy farmer and industry volunteers. Knowledgeable volunteers are on hand at all times during open hours to answer questions and narrate the calving process.
In addition to its website, The Calving Corner has a professional presence on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
For more industry news, read:
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- How Feeding Calves Helped This 33 Year Old Farm Mom Recover From a Devastating Brain Tumor
- Dairy Producers Face Tightest Margins on Record
- At Just 31 Years Old, He Bought The Dairy Farm From His Parents. And In The 1st Year, The Growth Has Been Incredible
- Dairy Farm Workers Not Necessarily a Fan of Overtime
