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Y E A R S
DAIRY ST R 25
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 25, No. 20
December 9, 2023
Tri-Cross Dairy’s plan for success Farm implements strategic crossbreeding program By Jerry Nelson
jerry.n@dairystar.com
VIBORG, S.D. — Dairy farmers have to take many factors into consideration when choosing their herd sires. Among the foremost of these factors is the level of inbreeding that will result from any particular mating. One way to get around the inbreeding issue is to mate cows with sires that are of a different breed. The practice of crossbreeding may have downsides, but these can be mitigated by the built-in advantages. Steve Broersma is the manager of Tri-Cross Dairy, a 5,000-cow operation that was established in 2017 near Viborg. Turn to TRI-CROSS | Page 2
JERRY NELSON/DAIRY STAR
Steve Broersma and Jenner Menezes stand in one of the feed alleys at Tri-Cross Dairy Dec. 1 near Viborg, South Dakota. Broersma is the manager at Tri-Cross Dairy, and Menezes is the operaƟon’s herd manager.
Away in a manger Ahlgrens host live Nativity scene
“It’s like you are stepping back in time,” she said. “Guests will be taken on a tour of Bethlehem.” The couple, along with Rick’s mother, Mary, worked By Tiffany Klaphake with Sandy Burt of Highland tiffany.k@dairystar.com Community Church to host the live walk-through Nativity production. Together they DARWIN, Minn. — High decided to hold the event at in the hayloft of the barn, an Ahlgren Dairy on the evenings angel will appear and bring of Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 from good tidings to all 5:30-7:30 p.m. who visit the live Na“I wanted the tivity production at event to take place Ahlgren Dairy. on a farm, and the Rick Ahlgren and Ahlgrens are such his wife, Sarah, own wonderful people,” and operate Ahlgren Burt said. “This farm Dairy near Darwin, is gorgeous. It is the where they milk 160 perfect place to host cows with three rothis event since (the botic milking sysSandy Burt Nativity) happened tems. outside in an agricul“It’s unique how our live tural setting with livestock.” Nativity (scene) set up,” Rick said. “It is a guided tour.” Sarah agreed. Turn to AHLGRENS | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Guests take pictures of characters during the live NaƟvity producƟon in 2020 held at Ahlgren Dairy near Darwin, Minnesota. Ahlgren Dairy will host the live NaƟvity again this year Dec. 1516.