Our Dairy Program

....... begins, of course, with our calves. Our calves are bottle fed colostrum for 4days. On day 5 we introduce them to the robotic feeder. They are fed a 26% protein milk replacer at 160g/Litre, which increases to 12L/ day  at  21 days of age. They are then slowly reduced in concentration and quantity. They are also introduced to heifer grower TMR and  calf starter. At 66 days of age they get2L at 35 grams per Litre. They are then weaned without any calling. They remain in the calf nursery for 2 more weeks. Then they are moved into our heifer barn in groups of 3 to 5.

In our heifer barn they continue to receive heifer ration TMR up to 9 months of age. At which point they are fed a specific heifer ration and are bred a t 12 months of age. Once preg-checked positive, they are then fed a pregnant cow ration until 21 days pre-partum, where they will then receive a close-up ration which will prepare them for calving and beginning the process of milking. At calving the fresh cow now moves on to the robotic milking system, where she will continue through the rest of her lactation. She is fed a balanced 25 L free access milking TMR,  along with Robotic Milking System  pellet supplement, fed by the robot during milking,  depending on milk production and number of days in milk.

Our cows are dried or "take holidays" @ 220 days pregnant, and enjoy 40 days of fresh pack bedding and open pasture. Since the introduction of our Lely robots, our cows are no longer grouped into tight areas in order to facilitate milking, and they are seldom disturbed by a herds person.  They have become quiet and content and will often enter the robot repeatedly even after they have reached the maximum # of milkings allowed per day.

Our facility promotes excellent animal welfare and herd longevity, based on providing our cows with unrestricted access to water, feed, rest and personalized milkings (up to 4x/day). In fact our cows are so happy they literally milk themselves.