World Dairy Expo 2011 Special Edition, First Section by Dairy Star

Dairy St r World Dairy Expo Special Edition

September 10, 2011

First Section

What’s Inside... Moons honored with McKown Master Breeder Award.............................................. Pages 1, 3 Krause receives National Dairy Shrine Award....Page 5 Visit dairies from around the U.S. without leaving World Dairy Expo.................................... Pages 11, 13 SECOND SECTION Maple Ridge Dairy will host virtual tour during World Dairy Expo........................................ Pages 2, 4 Meet the 2011 official judges...............................Page 7 Blue Mound Dairy presents forages, milk quality and reproduction management in virtual tour....Page 9 Heim family experiences culture from around the world.................................................Pages 13 - 14

October 4-8, 2011

Alliant Energy Center • Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Moons honored with McKown Master Breeder Award Iowa family third recipients of breeding recognition By heidi degier Staff writer

MONONA, Iowa – Vernice Moon of Monona, Iowa, said it was his dream to have a herd of registered Holsteins. Moon purchased a few foundation animals in the early 1960s, and that dream became a passion as he and his son, Dan, have developed a high quality homebred herd of registered Holsteins over the last 50 years. For their outstanding effort in breeding and managing a dairy herd that is also successful in the showring, the Moons have been chosen by the Klussendorf Association to receive this year’s Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award. The Moons heidi degier / Dairy Star are just the third recipient of the From left are Vernice and Bev Moon, Kyle Moon holding Moondale Steffanie, Dan, Ryan, Nancy and Emily Moon. award which will be presented Vernice and Dan Moon are the 2011 recipients of the Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award. The at the 45th World Dairy Expo in award will be presented at the World Dairy Expo. Turn to moons | Page 3

Page 2 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

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World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 3

Continued from moons | Page 1

Madison, Wis. “I was really honored about it,” Vernice said. “It’s for a lifetime of work.” “I was surprised and honored,” Dan said. “It means a lot to be honored for your breeding achievements. Some people go out and buy a lot of cows and this is mostly for what you’ve bred over the years.” At Moondale Holsteins, three generations are involved in the dairy operation: Vernice and his wife, Bev; Dan and his wife, Nancy, and Dan and Nancy’s children, Kyle, Emily and Ryan. Vernice attended the National Dairy Cattle Congress at Waterloo, Iowa, years ago when it was the national show and the best show cattle from across the United States and Canada were on display. “My dream was to have a herd of cows like some of those people had,” Vernice said. Vernice and his father milked grade Holsteins. Vernice said his father often talked about getting into registered Holsteins but it never worked out for him. It wasn’t until after his father passed away that Vernice began to buy one or two registered Holsteins at a time. Vernice said the best purchase he made was from a cattle jockey. He bought Shomont Neptune Triune, who had originally gone through the dispersal of the Shover herd at Central City, Iowa. Neptune Triune went on to classify Very Good 88 and became the main foundation of the herd. “I bought a lot of other cows, but she was really the foundation of the whole herd,” Vernice said. Moondale Standout Poppy was Neptune Triune’s granddaughter. Poppy scored Excellent 91 and became a Gold Medal Dam. Standout Poppy’s granddaughter, Moondale Mark Poppy, classified Excellent 94 5E and was also a Gold Medal Dam. She produced 325,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime and had three Excellent daughters with the highest being EX 95 3E. From the Poppy family there are six-, seven- and eight-generation Excellent branches. The Moons began showing in the early 1960s after Vernice purchased three heifers at the Art Johnson dispersal at Elkader, Iowa. They

were all daughters of Wis Captain, and along with another Wis Captain daughter in the herd, Vernice had the first place Junior Get of Sire at the district show. All three of Vernice and Bev’s children showed cattle as 4-H projects at the Clayton County Fair and as members of the Iowa Junior Holstein Association at the district and other shows. After high school graduation in 1977, Dan helped Marv Daufeldt with fitting show cattle at World Dairy Expo for three years. “That was back when Pinehurst was Premier Breeder and Exhibitor all the time, and I looked up to them,” Dan said. “They were winning all the time, and that’s why I wanted to be a Premier Breeder and Exhibitor.”

bred 134 Excellent cows, with the highest being EX 95 4E. In addition, they have bred six Gold Medal Dams and five Dams of Merit. The Moons are 17-year recipients of the Progressive Breeder Registry Award presented annually by Holstein Association USA to the nation’s top type and production herds. This past year, the Moon’s homebred herd averaged 112.4 breed age average (BAA) for type, which ranked them in the top 25 herds in the nation. The Moons had a BAA of 113 on their most recent classification with 26 Excellent cows, 20 Very Good and none lower. In addition to their outstanding type, the cows at Moondale also put the milk in the bulk tank with a herd average of 25,000 pounds.

“It means a lot to be honored for your breeding achievements. Some people go out and buy a lot of cows and this is mostly for what you’ve bred over the years.”

– DAN MOON

The Moons have shown for many years at the Iowa Holstein Show and have garnered the Premier Breeder Award 16 out of the last 20 years. They have also been Premier Exhibitor 11 times. Moondale Steffanie-TW, classified EX 95 2E, has been the best show cow for the family in recent years. Steffanie was twice grand champion and best bred and owned at the Iowa Holstein Show. In 2007, Steffanie was Reserve All-American 5-Year-Old Cow after placing second in her class at the International Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo. That same year, the Moons also bred an All-Canadian nomination. In 2008, Moondale was Premier Breeder and Exhibitor at the Midwest Fall National Show. “To me it means almost more than being Grand Champion, but not quite,” Dan said of receiving the Premier Breeder Award. “It reflects on your whole string, not just one or two cows.” Vernice remembers classifying the herd for the first time and that there were three or four cows that scored Good Plus. Since those humble beginnings, the Moons have

Vernice said one of the more interesting times for the family was the sale of several cows to Japan. Moondale Starflite Candy, who had just scored Excellent 90, was the first to go in 1978. The Moons later sold two more cows to Japan. The cows went to Iowa’s sister state in Japan, the Island of Yamanashi. “At that time it was quite an accomplishment,” Vernice said. The Moons currently milk 45 to 50 cows. Dan said he focuses on high type and high percent protein and fat in the breeding program. Currently the Moons are using mainly sons of Braedale Goldwyn. In addition to the Poppy family, the Moons are building off of three other cow families, the Joan, Cookie and Glitter families. The Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award is made possible by family and friends in memory of Robert “Whitey” McKown, the 1997 Honorary Klussendorf honoree. McKown joined the Holstein World staff in 1956 and also developed his own herd, MooKown Holsteins at Belleville, N.Y. McKown had a great admiration for the farmer breeder.

Later that day...Talking to AgriPac Dealer “...Order another pallet of AgriPac Bags, 4 rolls of Quickseal covers, 4 rolls of VRS to go with them, 2 rolls of Polycrop balewrap and 4 Grainflex 10x300’s.”

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Page 4 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

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World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 5

In the name of progress Krause receives National Dairy Shrine award By JENNIFER BURGGRAFF Staff writer

BUFFALO, Minn. – Charles Krause knows how to be progressive. It’s in his blood. Whether working on his dairy facilities, improving the genetics of his herd or simply getting his story out to the public, Krause strives to improve from one generation to the next. Krause will be recognized for his progressive efforts during the annual National Dairy Shrine awards banquet on Oct. 6 at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., as he was select as this year’s recipient of the National Dairy Shrine (NDS) Progressive Dairy Producers award in the small herd division. Martin Burken of Clinton, Iowa, will be recognized in the large herd division. “It’s nice to get recognized for some of the things you do,” Krause said on receiving the award. Krause is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and the second generation on the current farm site near Buffalo, Minn. He came back to his home farm in 1991, after graduating from the University of Minnesota, and now milks around 170 Holsteins with his wife, Robyn, who works off the farm, their children, Andrew (17) and Morgan (14), and his parents, Warren and Carol Krause. Progress at Krause Holsteins began even before Krause was born, when Warren and Carol purchased the site in 1959. Today, the farm boasts a double-8 parlor, two freestall barns, a compost pack barn, an open-front calf shed and an open heifer barn. The most recent addition was the heifer barn, which was put up in 2009. “It allows us to keep springing heifers separate from the dry cows,” Krause said. Ease of sorting, more bunk space for less competition and more comfort are just a few of the perks the structure allows for animals 9 months to 2 years old. “It’s better for everything,”

Krause has always been active off the farm, taking on leadership roles within the community and the industry. “Mom and Dad instilled in me [the drive] to get involved,” he said. He has been involved with the Wright County Breakfast on the Farm, is a strong advocate for Midwest Dairy’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program, and is involved in the SpeakOut! Program. This last July, Krause was part of the Dairy Retail Academy, an event involving 28 dairy aisle managers from SuperValu and Cub stores. The group toured a Kemps plant as well as a working dairy farm, where Krause and others spoke about animal care, explaining antibiotics and the use of rBST. “The biggest thing I can do is [to take advantage] when I have the opportunity to explain the simplest, baJENNIFER BURGGRAFF / Dairy Star Charles Krause (left) and his father, Warren Krause, are pictured in front of one sic things,” he said. “If I don’t tell my of their two freestall barns on their dairy near Buffalo, Minn. Charles will be story, someone else will, and it may recognized as the National Dairy Shrine Progressive Dairy Producer in the small not be right.” Krause has also hosted severherd division at World Dairy Expo this year. al groups – including international Krause said. “It’s a lot better safety we finally started hiring employees. groups from Russia, Great Britain for people and the animals.” Now we let our employees make and China – on his farm. Keeping the The Krauses have housed their some of the decisions. They know farm pleasing to the eye is important dairy herd in freestall barns for as what to do.” for this reason. But good management long as Krause can remember. Those It’s good to have great, reliable goes beyond physical aesthetics. stalls, however, have progressively people, he said, especially for the av- A focus on cow cleanliness has changed over the years as new styles erage 12 days a year he is gone serv- garnered Krause quality milk awards and features evolved. ing on different boards, including the for nine out of the last 10 years. Two groups are housed in the Midwest Dairy Association corporate “We try to maintain cleanliness freestall barns – a high group and a board and the state and local DHIA for SCC,” Krause said. “I think bedlow group. Fresh cows are housed in a boards. fresh cow pen next to the parlor where “I don’t worry about the cows Krause can monitor the cows three to when I’m gone. I can focus on my Turn to KRAUSE | Page 6 four days and transition them onto meetings,” Krause said. the lactating group’s diet. A nearby compost pack barn houses the special needs cows. Cows are milked twice daily at Krause Holsteins. Krause does much of the milking himself. “My favorite thing to do is milking,” he said. He is helped by full-time employee, Robert Epple. Part-time employees Shannon Zachariason and Brad Ebert complete the work force at Krause Holsteins. The employee team, Krause said, has played a crucial role in the success of the dairy over the years. “Employees are so important,” Krause said. “For the first 10 years, my father and I did everything; then

“By controlling my costs, I can increase my profit margin. DFA gives me the tools.” Member-owner Kent Folkema Country Folk Dairy Fremont, Mich.

www.dfamilk.com JENNIFER BURGGRAFF / Dairy Star

Charles Krause and his family have received many awards over the years for high milk quality and top cows in their county. The Krauses currently milk around 170 Holsteins.

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Page 6 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

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“It’s a great opportunity to see what’s new in the dairy industry...” Bob Traynor Spring Valley, Wis. 120 registered Holsteins How many years have you attended World Dairy Expo? I have attended WDE every year since 1973. It’s as much a part of autumn as the changing leaves and the first frost. Why do you attend World Dairy Expo? It’s a great opportunity to see what’s new in the dairy industry as far as products and practices and to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. The World Classic is a “must see,” and I also really enjoy the Holstein show.

What is the highlight of World Dairy Expo for you? Explain. Tough one! Probably seeing so many people that I may only get to see at Expo is the biggest highlight. Second would be how Expo has the “cutting edge” of all things dairy in the world.

How does attending World Dairy Expo benefit your dairy operation? No. 1. It “recharges my battery.” After a long and – especially this year – muggy summer, it’s great to hear that so many of my friends in the industry are in the same boat as our operation, be it handling the heat, making feed, genomics, or whatever. No. 2. I always learn of a new product or practice that I can take home and use at our place. Quite often it comes from other dairymen that I talk to, whether a friend or a stranger that I happen to sit next to at the sale or at lunch. No. 3. We do a fair bit of merchandising. Expo gives me a chance to talk to all the guys buying bulls for A.I. or exporting embryos and the like. Often that turns into someone or a group stopping at our farm to take a look.

What would you say to other dairy producers to encourage them to attend World Dairy Expo? Everyone in the dairy industry should go, at least a few times. The amount of info that can be gotten there is tremendous, and seeing all of what’s new can be good whether you milk cows, drive milk truck, make cheese or sell milker inflations. It keeps you up-to-date on what’s going on in the industry and how people from all over the country are feeling about it.

Tell us about your farm. Honeycrest Farms Inc. is a family operation in Pierce County, Wis. We run about 1,700 acres, milk 120 registered Holsteins and have a 30 cow beef herd. We sell eight to 10 bulls to A.I. studs a year, and currently have the No. 27 bull on the TPI list. We also finish out all our steers and raise our own heifers.

Continued from KRAUSE | Page 5

ding everyday is essential. It’s something that has to be done.” The freestalls are bedded with chopped straw over mattresses. Hydrated lime is added to the stalls a couple times each week, and the barn is cleaned at each milking. SCC this year has averaged 190,000. “The quality premium pays for all the teat dip and cleaning supplies for the parlor,” Krause said. Along with the low SCC, Krause’s cows are averaging 26,000 pounds of milk per year, with 930 pounds of butterfat and 780 pounds of protein. Genetics have played a large role in the high production of the Krause herd. Krause uses bulls from several of the major sire services, including ABS, Select Sires and Genex. “I try to select bulls in the top 10 percent net merit, with one point on type,” he said. Doberman, Levi, Shout, Boulder, Sanchez, Million, Pinetree Sid, Jock, Parker and Berkley are all currently in his tank, along with several young sires from ABS’s young sire program. A few of the cows have been crossbred to Swedish Red.

Regardless of the stud service or breed, feet and legs are always factored in, as well as production. “Production is king,” Krause said. “I want every generation to produce more than her mother did.” His focus on the cows, his leadership roles within the industry and his passion to progressively improve his dairy are the reasons behind Krause’s nomination for the NDS Progressive Dairy Producers award. With the recognition, Krause will receive a $2,000 travel stipend to attend a dairy-related educational event. He is unsure how he will use the stipend – on a farm tour or by attending his first ever World Dairy Expo this year. With both his children showing interest in joining the family business, Krause Holsteins holds nothing but progress for the future, including the addition of a new freestall barn, possibly incorporating a methane digester. “We’ll keep milking, striving for high production and implementing new technology when it’s available,” Krause said.

World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 7

World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 8

Page 8 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

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Page 10 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

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World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 11

Visit dairies from around the U.S. without leaving World Dairy Expo Virtual Farm Tours will focus on a variety of management topics, including: land conservation and forages, technology and innovation, unique marketing, robotic milkers, family transition, milk quality, reproductive success and transition cow management. These free tours will be presented daily, Tuesday through Saturday, in the Mendota 1 meeting room in the Exhibition Hall. The managers will present a halfhour pictorial view of their operation, including general operation information and highlights of exceptional management practices. Time for questions and discussion will follow. The tours will be available for viewing on World Dairy Expo’s website after the show. AgSource Cooperative Services, American Jersey Cattle Association, Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, Lely USA, North Carolina Dairy Advantage, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Quality Liquid Feeds are sponsors of the 2011 Virtual Farm Tours. Following is a short biography and description of each tour: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m. Hosted by: Simon Dairy, Westphalia, Mich. 705 milking/family transition Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feeds As the next generation joins the farm, the transition can be a difficult process. However, for the family of Simon Dairy Farm it has been a great opportunity to learn and grow together. Larry and Therese Simon are in the process of transferring responsibilities to their eldest son, Brent, and are planning for a partnership with Brent and his brother, Scott, who is currently a junior at Michigan State University working towards a degree in agri-business management. This multigenerational team has capitalized on the diverse blend of experience, education, and individual strengths. By working closely with Brent and other key members of the management team, the farm has been able to accomplish a rolling herd average of 27,072 pounds with a somatic cell count of only 97,000. Additionally, Simon Dairy has been able to achieve a pregnancy rate of 28 percent with over 55 percent of the herd being pregnant. Simon Dairy has been honored with the Silver Award for SCC by the Michigan Milk Producers Association and has won numerous top honors for several individual cows. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 12 p.m. Hosted by: Rosendale Dairy, LLC, Pickett, Wis. 8,400 milking/technology and innovation Sponsored by: Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Opened in 2008, Rosendale Dairy, LLC is the largest dairy in Wisconsin and utilizes the latest in technology. Rosendale Dairy is part of Milk Source, LLC which is a partnership between Jim Ostrom, John Vosters and Todd Willer. The partnership includes three additional dairies in Wisconsin, with a fourth one breaking ground this year. The 8,400-cow herd is housed in two 16-row barns featuring cross ventilation. Aisles are cleared using McLanahan push-pull augers that run the width of the barn and empty into a state-of-the-art sand separator. After waste and sand are separated, waste is further separated using dissolved air flotation that breaks waste into nutrients and water. Waste water and manure is stored in three, concrete-lined storage ponds with a total capacity of 73 million gallons. Rosendale contracts with local land owners for manure agreements. The herd is milked three times a day in twin 80-cow rotary parlors and has a rolling herd average of 28,000 pounds. Last year, the dairy received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Management. Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. Hosted by: St. Brigid’s Farm, Kennedyville, Md. 70 milking/unique marketing Sponsored by: American Jersey Cattle Association St. Brigid’s Farm was so named for the patron saint of dairymaids and scholars, which reflects the owners’ backgrounds. Judy Gifford was raised on a small dairy farm and always had a love of cows, and Dr. Robert Fry is a veterinarian whose career has been focused on the production and health of dairy cattle. Their 55-acre farm, located on the scenic eastern shore of Maryland near the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, is planted in permanent pasture and home to a 70-cow seasonal calving Jersey herd. This top producing herd was ranked third nationally for herd average Jersey Performance Index™ at the end of 2010. Gifford and Fry also raise grass-fed Jersey steers that are processed and marketed locally. Since 2008, the farm has hosted a Field to Fork dinner, an elegant event featuring a five-course meal for 100 people set in the pasture at the farm. Local products are prepared and served while growers, including Gifford and Fry, share their stories with the diners. It is a unique opportunity to educate neighbors about their environmental efforts and animal husbandry. They reinforce this message through their Web site and blog. Proceeds from the dinner are donated to charity. Thursday, Oct. 6, 12 p.m. Hosted by: Nor-Bert Farms, LLC, Bremen, Ind. 140 milking/robotic milkers Sponsored by: Lely USA Norman Krathwohl never imagined when he purchased Nor-Bert Farms in 1945 that 65 years later, three robots would be milking the herd. Nor-Bert Farm, Turn to virtual tours | Page 13

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STARWOOD RAFTERS, INC. 715-985-3117

W24141 Starwood Ln., Independence, WI 54747 Website: www.starwoodrafters.com

The arched rafters create a more open barn allowing better ventilation. Also since there are no open webs in the trusses, there are no places for birds to nest.

See us in booth EH 5005

888-525-5878

DAIRY EXPO & CHEESE CURDS IN

5 DAYS 5 avors of Ellsworth

Cheese Curds

Natural, Garlic, Cajun, Ranch and Taco COUPON

Good at one of our 3 retail stores for a

FREE 5 oz. Bag of Cheese Curds with a $10 purchase Coupon expires 11-1-2011

Find us at the Dairy Expo in the WMMB area and try Ellsworth Cheese Curds. PROCLAIMED “THE CHEESE CURD CAPITAL OF WISCONSIN!”

715-273-4311

507-280-7578

715-822-2437

232 N. Wallace Street Ellsworth, WI 54011

3120 Wellner Dr. Rochester, MN 55906

1858 Highway 63 Comstock, WI 54826

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Visit us online! www.EllsworthCheeseCurds.com Facebook: Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery

Page 12 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

NO ROOM FOR SECOND PLACE

VISIT KEMIN AT WORLD DAIRY EXPO, BOOTH #1707!

Number One in Quality. Value. Innovation. Customer Service. ...and now Chromium. Kemin leads the way in organic trace minerals.

WWW.KEMIN.COM/KEMTRACECHROMIUM

World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 13

Continued from virtual tours | Page 11 LLC is owned and operated by Norman, his daughter and son-in law, Deb and Roger Dankert, his grandson, Jeremy Dankert, granddaughter, Jennifer, and her family, including her husband, Monty, and their three children Dalton, Dillon and Breanne. Currently, Nor-Bert Farms milks 140 cows with a rolling herd average of 27,619 pounds. After a trip to the Netherlands, Roger was convinced that robotic milking could be a good fit for their operation. The family visited other dairies that had robotics incorporated into their operation and researched their options for automated milking. In 2010, the farm broke ground to retrofit the robots into the existing farm set-up. Robotic milking has been a great improvement to Nor-Bert Farms, allowing for flexibility in work schedules and allowing the farm to continue to grow as the family grows. The family agrees that robotic milking definitely works. Thursday, Oct. 6, 2 p.m. Hosted by: Meadow Vista Dairy LLC, Bainbridge, Penn. 648 milking/land conservation and forages Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feed Located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, producing quality forages while implementing best management practices for crop production is always top of mind for the Risser Family. Brothers Don and Gerald Risser, along with Don’s son, Eric, and Gerald’s son, Justin, are all partners in Meadow Vista Dairy LLC. Two of Gerald’s sons, Jason and Jordan, are also involved with the day-to-day operations. The farm is comprised of 740 acres on which corn, alfalfa, grass hay and small grain crops are grown. In 2008, the farm became 100 percent no-till cropping. The use of rye as a cover crop helps limit phosphorus and nitrogen runoff and soil erosion. Rye is double cropped with corn. With detailed feed and animal records, the family is able to know the exact cost per ton of each crop. In turn, this helps to reduce wasted feed. More importantly, it helps to allocate which crops are grown, how much fuel is used to plant and harvest crops, and how much fertilizer to apply. Currently, the farm milks 648 cows with a rolling herd average of 29,357 pounds. Friday, Oct. 7, 12 p.m. Hosted by: Blue Mound Dairy, Luverne, Minn. 1,000 milking/milk quality Sponsored by: Pioneer Hi-Bred At Blue Mound Dairy, efficiency and quality are the goals. Those goals extend to every aspect of the operation – from milking protocols to feed production. Blue Mound Dairy, owned and operated by Rick and Carrie Van Santen and their four sons, is nationally recognized for both milk quality and reproduction management. Honored for six consecutive years with the Milk Quality Award, they are industry leaders in milk quality with a bulk tank SCC average of just 112,000 for their 1,000-cow herd. As a 2009 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council Silver Award Winner, they also lead the industry in reproductive performance across their herd. Finally, Blue Mound Dairy is able to maintain a rolling herd average of 28,500 pounds with nearly all home-grown forages. By implementing several new procedures and practices, forage digestibility is at an all-time high for both haylage and corn silage. Friday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m. Hosted by: Myers Farms, Inc., Union Grove, N.C. 1,200 milking/reproduction success Sponsored by: North Carolina Dairy Advantage Myers Farms strives for the very best in cow comfort, milk quality and most importantly, reproductive performance. Barry and MaryJane Myers, along with their family, own and operate Myers Farms, Inc. The herd of 1,200 milk cows maintains a rolling herd average of 26,990 pounds with a somatic cell count of 70,000. More impressively, Myers Farms has a 35 percent pregnancy rate. By working closely with their veterinarian, reproductive specialists and employees, they have a sound reproductive plan. After observing a voluntary waiting period of 72 days, all cows are placed on a PreSynch+Ovsynch program and then timed A.I. Any cows checked open after 36 days post breeding are put back into the Ovsynch program. Heifers are bred when observed in heat and animals found open or over 14 months of age are then synchronized using a CIDR. In 2009, Myers Farms, Inc. was recognized as one of the top four herds in the nation for their reproductive success and awarded Platinum Honors by the Dairy Cattle Reproductive Association. Saturday, Oct. 8, 12 p.m. Hosted by: Maple Ridge Dairy, LLC, Stratford, Wis. 1,022 milking/transition cow management Sponsored by: AgSource Cooperative Services Getting cows off to a good start after calving is essential to Maple Ridge Dairy, LLC. Ken Hein and his brother-in-law, Gary Ruegsegger, are partners in the dairy with assistance from Ken’s dad, Phil Hein Jr. Maple Ridge Dairy tracks several key areas very closely during the transition cow period including somatic cell count, feed intake and daily milk weights. When numbers appear inconsistent, the issue is immediately addressed. By doing this, the dairy addresses fresh cow problems and prevents them from becoming larger and more costly issues. Additionally, cows off to a good start have more productive lactations, which is reflected in their rolling herd average of 31,014 pounds and a somatic cell count of 118,000. Both Ken and Gary are members of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and serve on numerous boards. Last year, they were honored as 2010 Master Agriculturalists.

See us at booths EH14131518

Page 14 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 Please visit us at World Dairy Expo, booth EH 1308, 1309.

VERSA BAGGER

ACID DETERGENT

“The leader of the Pack”

clean

break from traditional CIP.

MIDWEST REPRESENTATIVE

Kevin Meyerhofer 507-259-5863 Helps prevent teat sealant buildup in systems.

GO SOLO. Traditional multi-phase cleaning can waste time and money. Switch to SOLO, the breakthrough single-cycle acid detergent from A&L Laboratories. Featuring an innovative blend of organic and mineral acids, SOLO easily removes fats, minerals and proteins — all in one wash cycle. Plus, a shorter cleaning cycle saves Water, Energy and Time — our new WET Technology™ that gives you savings and value beyond product performance. Most importantly, SOLO means less downtime for cleaning and more cows in the parlor. For superior cleaning plus improved profits, break with tradition and go SOLO. Contact your local distributor or call A&L Laboratories at 800-225-3832.

World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011 • Page 15

Page 16 • World Dairy Expo • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, September 10, 2011

New Continuous Ridge Vent from Rollomatic Custom t to your new or existing building Motorized or Manual Options Highest UV inhibitor and lock stitch style sewing for longer curtain life Get the full value of air quality control curtains at the touch of a button

minutes

Visit us at “We like Roll-O-Matic Curtains because they are simple, tough and durable. I was impressed when they withstood 50-60 mile an hour winds this last winter (2008).” - Doug & Nancy Hoeer, New Vienna, IA

“We made our decision to purchase Roll-O-Matic Curtains because of the good things we had heard from other customers. They are simple and easy to use with no pulleys to worry about. They are strong, durable and they have a great installation crew.” - Jason & Chad Demmer, Dundee, IA

Features Two 16” Adjustable Ridge-Vent Curtains for Controlled Air Flow 2-4 ft. Eave Openings

World Dairy Expo Booths AR 470 & 471

“I like the convenient operation of Roll-O-Matic curtains. They move up and down with ease and everything to run them is in one spot. The curtains also let the light through as well as the building itself.” - John Van Schyndel, Elkorn, WI “What I like best about Roll-O-Matic Curtains is that they work and look great! The installation crew also did a professional job.”

Jim Kintzle, Sherrill, IA

“ I was impressed with Roll-O-Matic Curtains as to how well they held up to wind. You can conveniently open and close them with the changing weather all year round. They also look great.” - Eugene Smith, Clinton, WI

“Roll-O-Matic curtains are very easy to use, durable and dependable with excellent service.” - Falkland Holstein Farm, Jeff & Katie Falk, Monroe, WI

“I have had Roll-O-Matic Curtains since 2004 and they have lasted. They’re simple and maintenance free.”- Rick Reuter, Peosta, IA

“We have had Roll-O-Matic Curtains for 18 months now and there are no signs of wear and tear. The material is very durable and there is no discoloration. They are easy maintenance and roll up with ease, even in the wind.“ - Doug Raisbeck, Lancaster, WI

“What we like best about our Roll-O-Matic curtains is the ease of operation. We have the electric option, and all we have to do is push a button. The amount of light they let in is also phenomenal.”

-Marvin and Patty Biese, Greenleaf, WI

“What I like best about our curtains is the tight roll. They go up and down with ease and don’t ap in the wind.” - Lee Pattison, Garnavillo, IA

D evelopment R esources of I owa, Inc. 109 Industrial Parkway S #12, Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076

1-866-8-ROLLUP (1-866-876-5587) E-Mail:

dri@rollomaticcurtains.com • www.rollomaticcurtains.com

“Roll-O-Matic Curtains are easy to adjust. We open our curtains all the time and they always open with ease. They have also been maintenance free.” - Steve/Doug Turnis, Hopkinton, IA