UMaine dairy cow sets state record for butterfat production

Holstein Association USA, the world’s largest dairy cattle breed organization, has verified the recent production record of UM Eden Padme as a new Maine state record for butterfat production in her age group.

Padme is a member of the dairy herd at the University of Maine’s J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center in Orono.

At 2 years and 8 months of age, Padme produced 34,280 pounds of milk, with 1,649 pounds of butterfat and 973 pounds of protein in a 350-day lactation. Which means she averaged more than 11 gallons of milk containing 4.7 pounds of butter daily for a year.

High milk production results from proper management and genetics, according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Padme comes from a long line of high-producing university cows and care from UMADCOWS (University of Maine Applied Dairy Cooperative of Organized Working Students).

“Padme has the most patience with the students of any cow in the herd,” says Emily Fortin, student herd adviser.

Padme’s daughter Polkadot also is on her way to make a record of her own, UMaine Extension officials predict.

For more information, contact David Marcinkowski, a UMaine Extension dairy specialist and associate professor of animal and veterinary science, at 581.2740 or davidmar@maine.edu.