Learning by doing is the mantra for a lot of dairy farmers and Walter Graves is no exception. The fifth-generation dairy farmer’s passion for Jerseys has grown as his roles and responsibilities has increased on his family farm, Clover Farms in Dundas, Ill. Last month, Graves was awarded a Young Jersey Breeder Award from the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) during the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings in Portland, Ore.
Head West
After Walter graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a degree in animal science, he moved west to work for D&E Jerseys in Hilmar, Calif.
“While I was in California, I learned a new and efficient way of dairy farming that I had never been exposed to before,” Walter says. “At D&E Jerseys, the genetics of the animals was a priority, and I realized the value in breeding cows for certain traits.”
In 2006, Walter moved to Dalhart, Texas, to be the herdsman of Avi-Lanche Jerseys and assist with the overall start-up of the operation. His duties ranged from employee management, protocol development and other day-to-day operations.
Clover Farms
In 2007, when the opportunity presented itself to move back to the home farm, Walter and his wife, Claire, seized the opportunity. The young dairy producer says that his experiences out west allowed him to implement new ideas back in Illinois.
“I was able to help improve our record management systems, install headlocks and implement more standardized protocols, from vaccinations to routine herd checks,” he says.
A couple years later, design improvements were being made at Clover Farms. In 2009, the family built a four-row freestall barn. A few years later, they expanded their milking parlor from a double-7 to a double-18 parabone.
Keeping up with growth mode, in 2014, the Graves family added a second four-row freestall barn. Today the Graves family milks 1,200 Jerseys and farms 3,500 acres.
Change of Plans
While growth was the focus at Clover Farms, the Graves family was forced to change tune quickly when their milk cooperative implemented a milk quota in 2016.
“During this time, we were able to recognize the benefits of a proper breeding program,” Walter says. “This restriction on our herd size has allowed us to make genetics a priority in the animals we choose to keep on the farm.”
Utilizing an embryo transfer program, along with using sexed semen on heifers and following strict criteria for bull selection, the farm was able to drive their Registered Jersey genetics even further.
“We identify our top females through genotypes,” Walter says. “Then we IVF or conventionally flush those animals while trying to find the “holes” in their pedigrees and with bull selection we try to tap into their potential. It’s not always the highest genetic ranking cow or heifer that will be your best producer. If we identify a genetically superior female, we mate her with a bull that will help in the areas she may be lacking.”
Today, the Clover Farm’s breeding program emphasizes good udders, health traits, along with solid component levels. This is while keeping a strong pulse on reproduction rates.
Future Goals
Understanding the importance of efficiencies and the impact it has on their bottom line, Walter’s future plans include updating his dairy’s facilities with a rotary milking parlor. He also would like to keep a keen eye on continuing to develop a solid genetics program.
“I’d like our ET work to result in matings that make up top individuals and develop males of caliber to send to stud,” Walter says.
Clovers Farms is owned and operated by Jerry, Jim, Tony, Walter and Ryan Graves. Walter would like to make decisions today that not only help drive home efficiencies and improvements, but pave the way for the next generation to take over the family dairy farm.
“My children (Robert, Bailey and Belle) are at the age where they are starting to help on the farm and show at the fair just as I did,” he says. “My hope is that someday, they will want to be part of this legacy and the genetics that helped get us here.”
