SAUK R RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, AUG. 17, 2019 | Page 1B
Serving rural Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties
BENTON AG Plus
Sauk Rapids Herald
| SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2019
New Heights Dairy hosts Benton County field day BY JENNIFER COYNE STAFF WRITER
Rubes Sponsored by Fluegge’s Ag
RICE – When Brent Czech considers the progress he has made as a dairy farmer, it is not solely he or one part of management that has propelled his business. Rather, Czech’s 1,800-cow dairy is built on the foundation of teamwork and opportunity with the industry’s tools. “I want to give people access to the farm and a chance to learn and see what we are doing,” Czech said. “To best do that, I want you to hear from the best people we work with.” Czech hosted the Benton County Dairy and Forage Field Day on his New Heights Dairy Aug. 12 in Rice. Crossbreeding heightens purebred traits Since Czech began dairy farming, he has focused his breeding strategies to bring out the best traits in his cows, regardless of breed. The herd’s foundation is built on Holsteins, but then incorporates Jerseys and Montbeliarde in a three-way cross to maximize health, reproduction and production traits. Previously, it was a herd of mixed crossbreeds. “When we put a dollar amount to production, reproduction and health data,
Forward thinking PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE
Myron (left) and Brent Czech stand outside one of the freestall barns at Brent’s New Heights Dairy Aug. 12 in Rice. Brent hosted the Benton County Dairy and Forage Field Day where attendees learned about his dairy and forage management.
there was a clear winner – the Monte sire with a Ho-Jo dam,” said Shane Boettcher, key client and reproductive specialist with Select Sires. New Heights Dairy has followed this breeding strategy for the past four years, paying particular attention to not selecting positive stature Holsteins. In every selection, Czech chooses the top 1-2% of bulls in each breed based on net merit. “Brent is breeding with a commercial mindset, knowing reproduction and health traits
are important for cows to stay in the herd,” Boettcher said. “Data suggests crossbreds outperform purebred cattle. They have a higher dollar value for every trait, and that’s important in today’s economy.” Czech’s herd boasts an 80-pound tank average per cow with 4.2% butterfat and 3.3% protein. Recently, the Rice dairy farmer has decided to improve his crossbreeding strategy by breeding Holstein to Jersey, and then a Holstein-Jersey crossbred to a Holstein sire before
introducing the Montbeliarde in the third mating. “Breeds are improving all the time, and Brent wants to take advantage of those genetic advancements,” said Chris Sigurdson, general manager at Select Sires. “Because he’s using the best genetics by breed, it’s going to be tough to go wrong.” Hay in a day Czech runs 500 acres of alfalfa that he cuts for haylage. In understanding the haymaking process and using a low lignin alfalfa, Czech optimizes
his fields for a higher quality forage and more tonnage – all of which is done in the essence of time. A couple years ago, Czech planted HarvXtra low lignin alfalfa to extend stand longevity and reduce cuttings while at the same time increasing tonnage without losing quality. “This farm needs every ounce of forage on the acres they have,” said Isaac Popp, Centra Sota Cooperative crop advisor.
Czech page 2B
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