From Jerseys to Holsteins and auto feeders to individual housing, you won’t want to miss the farm tours at this year’s DCHA conference! Hear how these farms have expanded their herds, adapted their facilities and incorporated the next generation.
Endres Jazzy Jerseys
Dave Endres started farming in 1986 milking 50 Holsteins. By 1992, he was milking all Jerseys and today, Endres Jazzy Jerseys, Lodi, Wis. is home to 900 cows and 800 youngstock. The Endres family farms about 1,200 acres with a multi-partner harvesting LLC. They also own a farrow-to-finish swine operation.
What you’ll see:
- Improvements through management:
Jazzy Jerseys gathers regular benchmarking data to ensure a consistent heifer size. A whole milk pasteurizer has been a part of the farm for the last 30 years. - Calf and heifer facilities:
Designing the calf barn as an all-in, all-out facility helped calf health by containing diseases to just one group of calves. The heated calf barn also helps calves handle the cold. - Creativity in protocols:
Their low calf mortality rate starts with strict pre-fresh protocols following through to the calf barn. They created their own calf mover, specialized for Jersey calves, to make processing newborn calves easier.
Ziegler Dairy Farm
Ziegler Dairy Farm, Middleton, Wis., is a multi-generational farm in operation for 155 years. Three generations work side-by-side to care for a herd of 1,350 cows and 1,500 heifers. Ziegler’s heifers are custom raised by Scott and Bruce Hellenbrand.
What you’ll see:
- Calf and heifer facilities:
From automatic calf feeders to new transition heifer barns, learn why this family farm chose to add both. This tour will also showcase expansion options, including construction and management tips. - Standard operating procedures:
When it comes to heifers, protocols are vital. Ziegler Dairy practices strict newborn protocols and uses specific vaccination and reproduction synchronization to ensure breeding-age heifers are healthy and calve in on time. - Improving through opportunities:
Learn how three generations work alongside each other to accomplish one goal.