Virtual Farm Tours
WORLD DAIRY EXPO VIRTUAL FARM TOURS SPAN THE GLOBE
Dairy operations from coast-to-coast in the US and Argentina will be featured at the 2009 World Dairy Expo, held at the Alliant Energy Center, September 29 to October 3. Virtual Farm Tours will focus on a variety of management topics, including: cow comfort, grass based forages, sexed semen, calf comfort, transition cows, modernizing the family farm, feed additives and integrating technology.
Free tours will be presented daily, Tuesday through Saturday, in the Mendota 1 meeting room in the Exhibition Hall. The producers and managers will present a half-hour pictorial view of their operation, including general operation information and highlights of exceptional management practices. Time for questions and discussion will follow. AgSource Cooperative Services, BASF Plant Science, Barenbrug USA, Cover-All, Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc., Sexing Technologies and Vita Plus Corporation are sponsors the 2009 Virtual Farm Tours. Following is a short biography and description of this year’s tours:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
Tuesday, September 29, 2:00 p.m.
Hosted by: Valley Vu Dairy, Cumberland, Wisconsin
700 Milking/Utilizing Technology for Cow Comfort
Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
Dan and Pam Schullo of Valley Vu Dairy understand the importance of cow comfort, especially during the summer months. Since the couple started farming in 1976, they have been quick adapters of the latest advances in cow comfort from the advent of mattresses to a state-of-the-art sprinkler system. When they built a new free stall barn last year, the Schullos were able to add several advanced cooling technologies, including a thermostat-controlled fan sprinkler system. As the temperature rises, the intervals between sprays are shortened. Additionally, the new barn features larger fans, increasing air flow while reducing the amount of noise. Installing 12 foot waters has also been advantageous, making sure there is enough space for all animals to drink, including less aggressive heifers. But new technology is not without its challenges. Despite some setbacks, the Schullos are excited for the future of the dairy industry and look forward to more innovative technologies.
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Wednesday, September 30, Noon
Hosted by: Fietzer Dairy Farms, Inc., Manawa, Wisconsin
210 Milking/Grass Based Forages Increasing Profitability
Sponsored by: Barenbrug USA
When cousins Craig and Kyle Fietzer assumed responsibility for Fietzer Dairy Farms, they saw the potential in using grass forages as a means to increase herd health and productivity. The Fietzers started by balancing the ration, leading to a 20-pound increase in production. In 2006, they started planting grass in an effort to help battle displaced abomasums. After the introduction of the grass/forage blend, the incidence of displaced abomasums declined dramatically, making the switch to grass a valuable change. Nearly 160 acres is put into an alfalfa/grass blend, which is used for silage and bales for dry hay. Additionally, the blend has been helpful in weed suppression, making better quality forage. With the improvement of stall comfort and ventilation, Craig and Kyle have achieved another seven pound increase in production. Currently, Fietzer Dairy Farms has a daily production of 67 pounds per cow. Both Craig and Kyle look forward to integrating more grass/alfalfa blends and technology into the operation in the future.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2:00 p.m.
Hosted by: JER-Z-BOYZ Ranch, Pixley, California
2,700 Milking/Success with Sexed Semen
Sponsored by: Sexing Technologies
Sexed semen has made all the difference at JER-Z-BOYZ Ranch. The dairy is owned and operated by Gary and Donna de Graaf, along with their two sons Dustin and Daniel, and their young families. JER-Z-BOYZ has focused heavily on marketing quality replacements to both conventional and organic dairy producers. Currently, sexed semen is used on all heifers and approximately 90% of the milking herd on first and second services. The comprehensive breeding program incorporates proven sexed sires which are used predominately on heifers and selected individuals in the milking herd, sexed young sires are used in the majority of the milking herd. Over the past three years, merchandizing has shifted from selling heifers that are five to six months old, to selling heifers that are 12 to 16 months of age (to calving every heifer born on the farm with sexed heifer semen and selective fresh cow merchandising). JER-Z-BOYZ Ranch had 3,848 live calves born on the farm in 2008 and “harvested” just over 1000 additional heifers with the use of sexed semen.
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Thursday, October 1, Noon
Hosted by: Tauscher Farms, Inc., Green Bay, Wisconsin
250 Milking/Calf Comfort
Sponsored by: Cover-All
The Tauschers emphasize the importance of calf care. The future of their dairy herd relies on the latest in technology to maximize growth and potential. Brothers Al, Ray and Mark own and manage Tauscher Farms, Inc. In 2008, a large Cover-All TITAN building was built on the farm to help manage animals and manure better. The building measures 100 feet wide and 280 feet long. With the calves and heifers now on the same farm as the cows, more individual attention can be given to each group. The barn provides ample light, and tunnel ventilation delivers adequate fresh air and improved circulation. Additionally, the barn was outfitted with waterbeds for larger bred heifers while younger animals are on pillow-like mattresses. With a rolling herd average of 26,085 pounds and a somatic cell count of 120,000, the Tauschers are striving to continue to produce quality milk with the next generation of animals.
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Thursday, October 1, 2:00 p.m.
Hosted by: Stone-Front Farm, Lancaster, Wisconsin
400 Milking/Facilities for Transition Cows
Sponsored by: AgSource Cooperative
For over 100 years, Stone-Front Farm has been utilizing cutting-edge research to help make the dairy more profitable. In 1997, the farm was moved to its present location in Lancaster, Wisconsin. Since the move, the herd has steadily grown from 65 registered cows to 420 registered cows, resulting in the need for new facilities. Stone-Front partnered with the University of Wisconsin - School of Veterinary Medicine and University of Wisconsin Extension to design and build a state-of-the-art facility that focuses on transition cow management. The new facility was designed to minimize stress on cows at this critical time. Transition animals enter pre-fresh pens in small groups and are not moved until after calving, minimizing pen moves reduces stress. In addition, transition cows and heifers are grouped separately to minimize social stress and to increase biosecurity. This system has been very successful for their farm.
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Friday, October 2, Noon
Hosted by: Voegeli Brown Swiss Farm, Monticello, Wisconsin
190 Milking/Modernizing of a Growing Family Farm
Sponsored by: Vita Plus Corporation
To provide opportunities for continued development and the next generation, Voegeli Brown Swiss Farm expanded its operation while still using existing facilities to support a mid-sized herd. The first phase of expansion included a three-row freestall barn with 146 sand stalls. Two years later, a new parlor was retrofitted in the original barn that had been in use for the past 90 years. The new facilities improved labor efficiency without compromising herd health and performance of the 190 milking cows on this fifth-generation farm. Voegeli Brown Swiss Farm was established in 1854 and since then the Voegeli family has created a long tradition of breeding, developing and marketing top shelf Brown Swiss cattle and genetics. Today, farm visitors can easily view and evaluate outstanding herdmates, including members of the 13-generation Excellent Madora Family.
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Friday, October 2, 2:00 p.m.
Hosted by: Schutte Dairy Farm, Monona, Iowa
120 Milking/High Quality Forages/Feed Supplements Enhancing Production
Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
Producing high quality forages is what the Schutte family does best. Schutte Dairy is owned and managed by Lance and Jonna Schutte. Alfalfa, corn and oats are grown on 300 acres. In 2008, the haylage had a relative feed value of 182 and corn silage had 30-hour NDFD of 60 percent. To maximize the digestibility of these high quality forages, they feed supplemental sugar to compliment starch from corn silage and ground corn, to achieve optimal rumen fermentation. The herd is a combination of Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Ayrshires that are fed a 60 percent forage ration. By adding a liquid supplement to the ration, they can minimize sorting and increase intake consistency. The results speak for themselves. Earlier in 2009, the herd achieved a standardized average daily milk production of 101 pounds/cow/day with a rolling herd average of 31,875 pounds.
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Saturday, October 3, Noon
Hosted by: Monte Chico, Ballesteros, Cordoba, Argentina
360 Milking/Argentine Dairy Integrates Technology
Sponsored by: BASF Plant Science
Monte Chico has been in the Marinelli family for over 100 years. In that time, numerous technologies have been integrated into the farm, making Monte Chico one of the premier dairies in Argentina. Today, the dairy is home to 360 Registered Holstein cows with an additional 380 youngstock. Monte Chico focuses on cow comfort by providing wide stalls for larger Holstein cows in the barns. To minimize stress on the milking herd, cows are milking twice daily during the coolest parts of the day. Milk cows rotate between different freestalls located across 168 acres. An additional 160 acres is used to raise crops. A TMR is used to maximize milk production and profitability. The Marinelli family hopes to continue utilizing technology as future generations expand the dairy.
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