Beef: more than just steak!

Dairy farmers aren’t the only ones taking care of cattle. There are beef cattle, too!

While dairy cows provide milk that is made into cheese, yogurt and other delicious dairy products, beef cows are raised primarily for meat. Cattle and beef production represent the largest single segment of American agriculture. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service there are 360,000 beef cows in the state of Minnesota.

Cattle farmers are committed to caring for their animals, giving them proper nutrition and handling them in a respectful way. Many cattle farmers use management practices influenced by the Beef Quality Assurance program, a national program that provides guidelines for proper management techniques of beef cattle production.

Beef is an excellent source of vitamin B12, zinc and protein. It is also one of the best food sources for iron, a mineral lacking especially in the diets of many women and children. It’s also healthy choice since there are 29 cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean.

But beef cows provide more than steak. According to the Minnesota Beef Council, a 1,000-pound steer will provide about 430 pounds of edible meat. The rest of the weight is sold as by-products such as leather, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food products and many others.

For more information about beef, visit www.mnbeef.org or www.explorebeef.org.

The answer to the question in the previous blog post is 20 miles per hour.

Here’s the next question:

How many cowhides does it take to supply the National Football League with enough leather to produce footballs for one season?

Comment with your guess. The answer will be given in the next blog post. 

Chickens, ducks, turkeys ... it's all poultry!

June is a very exciting month for many families because it is filled with graduation parties. One my favorite things to have at a grad party is cheesy turkey. Did you know that Minnesota ranks first in the nation for turkey production?

Turkeys are part of what we call poultry, which includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, or geese raised for meat or eggs. Obviously the favorite time of the year to eat turkey is during Thanksgiving. On that day nearly 690 million pounds of turkey is eaten! 

Chickens are also considered poultry because they are raised for both meat and eggs. A broiler is a young chicken raised for meat, and in the United States it is a $45 billion dollar industry. When it comes to chickens laying eggs, the average hen lays about 260 eggs a year. She can start laying eggs when she is just 19 weeks old and as she grows older she will produce larger eggs.

The families who raise poultry are dedicated to caring for their animals to ensure that we are getting the best food possible. It is important to remember that when cooking chicken, if the meat still has the bone in it it should be heated to at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit. If the meat is boneless, it should be heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unfortunately we will not be able to have turkeys at the miracle of birth center but we will have chicks hatching. If you want to see a preview of what you will be able to view live at the AgStar Miracle of Birth Center view the video below!

Minnesota ranks 3rd in the nation for hog production! Check out the next blog to find the answer of this question:

How fast can a wild turkey run?

Pigs are important to Minnesota

Since June is dairy month, a great way to celebrate is by drinking a cold glass of milk with a delicious pork chop. Just like dairy farmers, hog farmers are very dedicated to caring for their animals and providing a nutritious delicious product.

Did you know that pigs are Minnesota's top producing livestock commodity? Pork is an excellent source of protein that is low in fat. Pigs provide us with so many different products, like pork chops, ham, bacon, and many others. Pigs were also used for many years to provide insulin for diabetics.

The AgStar Miracle of Birth Center will provide you a great way to see the live birth of piglets and to be able to talk with real hog farmers. If you want more information on pigs visit www.mnpork.com!


The answer to the last blog post is 81,000 farms. In our next post, we'll have the answer to this question:


Where does Minnesota rank in national pork production?

June is Dairy Month!

June is an exciting time for many people. During this month, the school year ends for many students, we celebrate with fathers on Father's Day and it's also the official start of summer on June 21.

June is also dairy month! It's a time to recognize the dairy farmers in the area. They help produce lots of delicious food like the milk for cereal in the morning or dunking cookies after dinner, the cheese for a burger or on top of broccoli, and the yogurt for mixing with granola during snack time just to name a few examples. (Are you getting hungry yet?) 

Dairy month is also a great time to learn more about dairy farms and the families who own them. Many people in this corner of the state don't have to travel far to find dairy farmers. In southeast Minnesota there are 30,500 milking cows, each of which is cared for by dedicated dairy farmers. The animals are given clean comfortable places to rest, nutritious food and fresh water. The commitment to caring for their animals starts the day each animal is born. The AgStar Miracle of Birth Center will be a great place to see four dairy cows and their calves, and talk to some of the local dairy farmers from the area. 

For now, enjoy your dairy products. Pour yourself a tall glass of milk, eat a slice of cheese with your crackers or enjoy a cold ice cream treat. Happy June Dairy Month!

The answer to the question from the previous post is 155 people. Here is the next question:

How many total farms (not just dairy) are there in Minnesota? 

Comment with your answer along with your favorite dairy product in honor of June Dairy Month!