PA Farm Show welcomes cows on "Moo-ternity" leave

In its third year, the Calving Corner returns to help welcome newborns calves, educate visitors

News provided by

American Dairy Association North East

Dec 16, 2019, 15:14 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With just a few days left before the big "push," four Pennsylvania-based dairy farmers will each bring four of their pregnant herd to the Calving Corner, a veritable birthing center, to nest during the PA Farm Show before giving birth. Introduced in 2017, the Calving Corner has become one of the top attractions at this annual event.

Dairy farmers transporting their cows during this gestational period have to prepare, making sure their cows are just as comfortable during the trek down the Interstate as they would be in their freestall barns just before the day of delivery.

"At Meadow Spring Farm, we take great pride in providing the best care for our cows. We're excited to share what we do on the farm with Farm Show visitors at the Calving Corner this year," said Andy Bollinger of Meadow Spring Farm, Lititz, Pa.

This year, while participating in the 104^th annual PA Farm Show, visitors will once again be able to learn about the processes farmers go through when birthing calves by watching Meadow Spring Farm and three other Lancaster County farms participate in the Calving Corner this year: Franklin View Farms in Washington Boro; Yippee! Farms in Mount Joy; and Meadow Wood Farms in Lebanon. The Calving Corner is a unique experience designed to teach children, and adults, a bit about the life of a farmer and how taking care of the family business is a 24-hour "labor" of love.

Farms will rotate their onsite stays, giving each a chance for their cows to give birth during the show. And though one cannot predict the day or time each birth may happen, ideally two cows will give birth each day of the Farm Show. After the birthing process, the cows and calves will head back to their home farm, allowing the next farmer to set up. In total, 16 cows will give birth over the eight-day Farm Show.

"These local farmers are opening their farms and sharing their time and animals so that Farm Show visitors may witness the miracle of birth," said Miriam Miller, Calving Corner Project Manager. "Their passion and commitment to the dairy industry will help enhance the public's view and understanding of production agriculture."

Aside from watching a calf enter the world and become sure-footed in front of Farm Show visitors, those who witness the births also have an opportunity to ask dairy farmers and industry members about day-to-day life on the farm and about how their favorite dairy products are produced. It's the most ideal time during the Show to make a connection with the dairy farmers who work tirelessly to feed communities near and far.

About American Dairy Association North East (ADANE)

American Dairy Association North East (ADANE) is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Committed to nutrition education and research-based communications, ADANE provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Funded by dairy checkoff dollars from more than 10,000 dairy farm families in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and northern Virginia, ADANE works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the North East region. For more information, visit AmericanDairy.com.

SOURCE American Dairy Association North East