6 minute read
Working his way into the operation Schleif managing, improving herd with steadfast team at his side
By Stacey Smart stacey.s@dairystar.com
OSHKOSH, Wis. – Cows are the passion of Branden Schleif, and to him, they are worth the energy he invested to get to where he is today. Schleif grew up working on dairy farms and put in the time to acquire the necessary skills that helped him work his way into herd management.
“I grew up with the love of farming and especially a love for dairy cattle,” Schleif said. “Both sides of my family were involved in dairy farming. I’ve had a lot of good mentors over the years. I couldn’t be more thankful for the things they taught me and wouldn’t be here without them. My parents’ support and guidance every step of the way kept pushing me forward toward my goals.”
Today, Schleif is the herd manager at Edward Walter Farms Inc. near Oshkosh where they milk 290 cows and farm 900 acres. The farm is owned by Steve and Renee Luetbke and has been in their family since 1851. Schleif has been working on the farm for four years and managing the herd for two. He started out as a milker, and as the owners got to know his skills set, his responsibilities grew.
“I feel grateful and blessed for the opportunity Steve and Renee have given me and my family,” Schleif said. “They gave an outsider trust to keep their operation going when Steve was looking for someone to take over and aggressively manage the herd.”
Tackling updates and improvements, Schleif has been the man to push the farm into the future by focusing on the strengths of the herd and tapping into its potential.
“In Branden, I see someone who’s all about cattle,” Steve said. “Cows are his thing, and he can get out of these girls whatever they are capable of.”
But Schleif said he could never do it alone and credits the team he works with as the reason for the farm’s success. There are seven people on Schleif’s barn staff.
“This is a special team,” he said.
“They’re a team for the long haul.”
Steve’s brother, Glenn, also works on the farm along with Steve’s nephew, Tyler Cummings, who handles crops. The Luetbkes also have two sons who help when needed.
Schleif’s ambition to one day manage a top-quality herd took him to Lakeshore Technical College where he earned his dairy herd management certicate. After graduation, he worked at the Hoard’s Dairyman farm for ve years before managing a 400-cow dairy in central Wisconsin.
“I then came back down this way and kept building my experience,” Schleif said.
He worked in the maternity area at Pine Breeze Dairy and also as a breeder for Genex Cooperative.
“I gained a lot of experience and knowledge through the people I worked for over the years,” he said. “Everywhere I went, I had a lot of support – from nutritionists, veterinarians and herdspeople. I kept asking questions, and I have an appreciation for where I am today.”
One of Schleif’s top priorities at Edward Walter Farms is to transition to an all-registered herd.
“There is a lot of genetic potential in this Holstein herd,” Schleif said. “They are high producing and have a low somatic cell count. I want to be able to emphasize what this herd can do and promote it through merchandising. Some cows are producing over 200 pounds of milk per day. The genetics are here.”
Cows are milked three times a day in a double-14 swing parlor. The farm’s rolling herd average is 30,000 pounds of milk, 4% butterfat and 3.2% protein with a 58,000 somatic cell count. The dairy ships its milk to Land O’Lakes and has won numerous quality awards.
“This farm has always had a reputation for a low somatic cell count going on at least 20 years,” Schleif said.
Schleif and his wife, Amanda, have two sons – Emerson and Hayden. By continuing to develop the herd, Schleif is hoping to give his boys the opportunity to show cattle one day.
In his quest for continual improvement, Schleif implemented technology for furthering cow health, fertility and nutrition when he began using the CowManager system last January.
“It’s a great tool to monitor cow health anywhere you are,” Schleif said.
Kristen Metcalf
Milton, Wisconsin
Rock County 350 cows
Family: I farm with my husband, Corey, and his parents, Terry and Jane. My sister-in-law, Lauren, also helps on the farm part time. Additionally, I own a small herd of registered Holsteins with my mom, Phyllis Broege, and my sisters, Jenna and Nicole Broege. We enjoy showing them at local, state and national shows.
Tell us about your farm. Our farm, Glacier Edge Dairy, was established in 2017. We milk 350 Jersey cows and grow 1,200 acres of crops. The milking herd also includes about 15 registered Holsteins and Red and White Holsteins – my pride and joy. Our operation is fairly unique in that our dairy was built from the ground up without any pre-existing buildings or cows. Since building our freestall barn, milking parlor, machine shed and manure storage in 2017, we have added a hay storage shed and youngstock barn, where we raise our calves and heifers. We also raise our beef to nishing age, at which point we sell them to market or privately to consumers. Outside of our family, we have three full-time and two parttime dedicated employees. At Glacier Edge Dairy, we are proud of our highperforming cows and our exceptional team.
What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? My husband and I start our chores in the morning, feeding between 80 to 100 calves on milk, feeding grain to youngstock, taking care of newborn calves and any other immediate tasks. By 8 a.m., I start my full-time job as the events manager for Genex Cooperative. I’m fortunate to be able to work from my home or the desk I have at our farm. Around 5 p.m., we start chores again –watering all the youngstock and feeding calves. Outside of my full-time job and on the weekends, I assist with herd health, moving cattle, eldwork and employee management.
What decision have you made in the last year that has beneted your farm? Most recently, we have converted to feeding our calves 3 quarts of milk twice a day. This is an increase from 2 quarts twice a day. We are seeing a signicant increase in rate of gain through colder temperatures. In addition, we harvested high-moisture corn instead of snaplage for the rst time and added it to the ration. We’ve seen an increase in starch digestibility.
Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. It’s hard to narrow down one single experience. Growing up on my family’s dairy farm, I have special memories of riding in the tractor with my dad and learning the ropes of feeding calves at an early age. Currently, it’s the moments leading up to developing a great cow or bull – a true sense of pride in what we do is shown through those animals. This past summer when we hosted the dairy breakfast, seeing people amazed by our robotic feed pusher and herd monitoring collars will always be fond memories.
What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? The people – hands down. From the other passionate people at dairy cattle shows, to the advisors we work with at our farm, to my co-workers, to the youth I teach, I could go on and on. I can easily say that my great friends, family and network of professional connections pretty much all stem from the dairy industry.
What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? When I was a junior member, awards from 4-H, FFA and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association lled space on my resume. To now give back to each of those groups is very fullling. I also feel accomplish- ment in nursing a sick animal back to health or educating a random consumer in the grocery store. Our small Holstein herd has remained on the Holstein USA top ranking lists for BAA for the past few years. And on the Jersey side, we had the opportunity to sell ve bulls to A.I. stud in the last year and a half. I know I’m just scratching the surface of my dairy career and am very excited for the future. www.extension.umn.edu/dairy
What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? This past summer, our farm hosted the Rock County Dairy Breakfast. It was a great way to educate consumers and showcase our top-notch cow care. In addition, we host tours when requested and the local FFA chapter’s Food for America. We also have a Facebook page. In addition, I serve on the Rock County Dairy Promotion Council.
What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Don’t be afraid to try something new, especially with tasks on the farm. Condence has gone a long way for me when attempting to learn a new skill. And, remember that every role on the farm is important. Whether it be making eld meals, cleaning the farm ofce, mowing the lawn or washing calf coats, you are a part of the team.
When you get a spare moment, what do you do? I enjoy volunteering my time as the Rock County Junior Holstein advisor and dairy quiz bowl coach and am active in FFA alumni chapters. This year, I was fortunate to judge a few dairy cattle shows as well. I like exploring local wineries and boutiques when I’m able to.
