During a recent dairy tournament in Brazil, a Girolando cow set a new national record for milk production by a single cow in a period of three days, with a whopping 343 liters (90.6 gallons).
Brazil’s Girolando cow breed, a cross between Holstein and Gir cattle, has long been famous for its incredibly high milk production. The average Girolando yields 3,600 liters (950 gallons) of milk per 305-day lactation period, but some specimens can produce well over 100 liters (26.4 gallons) per day. Brazilian cattle farmers take great pride in owning record-setting Girolandos, a breed developed in the South American country, and compete against each other in dairy tournaments to see whose cows yield the most milk in a set period of time. During a recent tournament in Delfim Moreira, southern Minas Gerais, a Girolando cow set a new national record by producing 343 liters of milk in a three-day period.
Although the names of the cow and its owner have not been revealed by Brazilian media, we do know that the animal reached the remarkable milestone of 120 liters of milk in just one day, close to the Guinness World Record for daily milk production. On August 3rd, 2019, another Girolando cow, Marília FIV Teatro de Naylo, set the world record for daily milk production with a whopping 127.6 liters of milk. The Girolando breed is also currently listed as the most productive cow breed as a result.
It’s important to note that farmers spend months preparing their cattle for dairy tournaments, supplementing their diet to intensify milk production. Up until a few years ago, the use of steroids and other banned substances was not uncommon during such events, but a change in the ruleset introduced testing, as well as the obligation that the animals be brought in at least 48 hours before the first milking of the tournament. The interval between the three daily milkings was also set at eight hours.
To get an idea about how highly cattle are regarded in Brazil, the South American country also holds the record for the world’s most expensive cow, a Nelore specimen valued at $4.3 million.
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