Dairy Farming Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q) How much milk does a cow produce a day?

A.

On average, a cow produces 6-8 gallons of milk per day. Milk production is however dependent on several factors. A cow will thus produce varying amounts of milk at different stages. The lactation period is runs from one calving to the next. This period is divided into four phases. These include the dry, early, mid and late phases. The dry stage should ideally last for 65 days while the rest of the stages last for approximately 120 days.

Q) Why do we drink cow milk?

A.

We drink milk because it’s a good source of calcium, protein, potassium, Vitamin D and other vitamins.

Q) What is lactose intolerance

A.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to fully digest lactose (milk sugar). This results in bloating, diarrhea and gas.  Lactose intolerance is common in people with low levels of lactase. This is an enzyme produced in the small intestines. It is the lactase that breaks down the milk sugar (lactose) enabling the body to absorb it with ease.

Q) What is lactose free milk?

A.

Lactose free milk is natural/regular milk. The only difference is that the lactose is either filtered out or broken into simpler sugars. Some companies such as Horizon organic, Fairlife and Lactaid break down the lactose by adding enzyme lactase to regular milk.

Q) What is cheesecloth?

A.

Cheesecloth is a gauzy loosely woven cotton cloth. It was originally designed to make cheese but has since gained other uses. Cheesecloth is available in several grades including grade 90 (17.5×14), grade 60 (12.5×11), grade 50 (11×9.5), grade 40 (9.5×8) and grade 10(8×5).

Q) What is cheesecloth made of?

A.

Wondering what cheesecloth is made of? Well, the unique piece of fabric is made from loosely woven cotton. It resembles gauze and is available in different lengths, grades and thickness. The grade is determined by the number of threads per square inch.

Q. What is cheesecloth used for?

A.

Cheesecloth, the porous cloth, can easily be accessed in most supermarkets and convenience stores. This is one of the few fabrics that will serve almost any purpose in the kitchen. Many people wonder ‘what is cheesecloth used for?’. Well, cheesecloth has hundreds of uses. These uses include;

Aging cheese

The name is a sell-out that this fabric was primarily designed to make cheese. Aging cheese dates hundreds of years and has no sign of coming to an end. What has changed are the refrigerator designs but the techniques and results have relatively remained the same.

Straining stock and broth

Homemade stock and broth are not only healthy but also fun packed. You will enjoy straining your broth using this unique fabric. It gives you the assurance that you will not find any bits or veggies or meat in your broth.

Tying herbs  

Tying herbs, bouquet garni, is the easiest way of flavoring soup and sauces. Cheese cloth comes in handy in making bouquet garni that will not leave any traces of sprig of thyme or bay leaves in the sauce. The cheese cloth will double as the twine used to tie the bouquet to the pot handle to avoid forgetting it in the pot.

Dusting powdered sugar

Dusting cookies and cakes no longer needs to be a daunting task. Cheesecloth makes it easy to smoothly powder all the cakes in an easy yet efficient way. The same can be used to dust desserts too.

Turning regular yogurt to Greek yogurt

The difference between Greek and regular yogurt is the straining. All you need is a colander and a piece of cheesecloth. Line the colander nicely, pour the yogurt and wait for it to sip through the fabric. This will result in fine and consistent yogurt known as Greek yogurt. You may use finer grade cheesecloth to strain the Greek yogurt further. This would give you fresh cheese known as labneh.

Straining bacon fat

Its very important that you strain the grease from your meats. Cheesecloth may be used to strain grease in duck, bacon or goose leftovers. These fats may be used to prepare other meals or even stored in the fridge.

Basting poultry

Even tried cheese cloth when basting your poultry? Moist chicken or turkey has never been sweeter. For the best results, drench the cheesecloth in olive oil, butter or white wine and wrap your breasts before basting.

Bandages

Running short of medical gauze? Well, worry not more. The cheesecloth lying in your kitchen drawers is all you need. Clean the wound and use the cheese cloth to loosely cover it.

Cleaning utensils

Though soft cheesecloth offers enough friction to clean and remove water stains from utensils. Your silverware will be sparkling clean especially when a little baking soda is used to dampen the fabric.

Q. Is cheesecloth reusable?

A.

Most definitely! Cheesecloth is reusable and can be reused multiple times. You just need to ensure that it is maintained in the highest hygiene standards. Once cleaned and rinsed in hot water, the fabric should be dried under direct sunlight. This ensures that it is completely dry before storage. Dump cheesecloth may encourage growth of molds resulting in health risks.

Q) What is mad cow disease?

A.

Mad cow disease (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy-BSE) is a neurodegenerative cattle disease. Its manifests in cattle through signs such as troubled walking, weight loss and abnormal behavior. With time, the cow’s behavior changes completely and is unable to function normally.

Q) What causes mad cow disease?

A.

Mad cow disease in cattle is associated with misfolded protein (prion). Normally cows will get Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) if fed on meat on bone meal originating from BSE infected cattle.

Q) What Are The Mad Cow Diseases Symptoms?

A.

  1. Some of the common symptoms in human beings include;
  2. Memory loss
  3. Poor balance and loss of coordination
  4. Jerking movements
  5. Loss of mobility and brain function

Q) Where Can I Buy Cheesecloth Near Me?

A.

Gone are the days where you needed to step out to get all you needed. We now have the entire world in our hands. You just need to key in a few letters and will have all you need at your disposal. Getting the best cheesecloth near you shouldn’t be hindered by your distance from the store. Online stores such as Amazon.com have made it possible to access the best products in the shortest time possible.

Q) Can You Reuse Cheesecloth?

A.

Yes! You can re-use cheesecloth not once but several times. This will however be determined by the cheesecloth grade and quality you buy. High quality cheesecloths give you the privilege of re-using them over and over. Such cheesecloths may be washed by hand or using a washing machine.