It’s the little things that make a big difference. That proved to be true at Woldt Farms in Brillion, Wisconsin, as featured as a 2024 World Dairy Expo Virtual Tour.
When the 1,650-cow dairy owned by Daryl and Amy Woldt and their five daughters reached out to our team, they weren’t struggling. Rather, they were striving. Striving to obtain excellence and capture efficiencies that they knew existed to take their operation to the next level, and were open to outside eyes to help them see those hidden opportunities.
Parlor Efficiency
Working closely with dairy manager Jeff Evenson, the biggest shortfall we addressed right away was that the parlor was maxed out at 1,400 cows. However, by streamlining the milking prep routine, we were able to get 200 more cows through per milking shift, without adding any additional employees or hours.
The original routine was dip, strip, wipe – right down the line of the parallel parlor. Our change was to make this routine more circular: go down the line with one action (i.e. – dipping), then come back and do the next step and so on.
The tightening up of this process was the game-changer that allowed them to go from 5.4 turns per hour to 7.2 turns per hour, which increased milk output without increasing labor.
Less Treatments, More Pregnancies
Fresh cows were the next area we addressed. We realized quickly that the location of these vulnerable cows near the noise and traffic of the milking parlor was causing unnecessary stress. Relocating them to a quieter area of the barn was a simple step. We followed that with reduced lockup time, stringent feed pushups and less interventions, which has resulted in reducing treatments from 40 percent down to 5 percent and gaining 3-4 percentage points in pregnancy rate as these cows return to breeding faster and healthier.
Empowering Employees for Optimal Efficiency
All of these changes combined have resulted in significant improvements in employee efficiency. With a strong emphasis on cross-training, employees are now versatile, being able to handle various tasks beyond their primary responsibilities. This has lifted employee morale as they feel valued and trusted to take on more roles. The maternity staff, for example, is also involved in feeding calves and supporting milkers, ensuring seamless operations throughout the day. Such practices not only increase productivity but also reflect a culture that respects and values every team member.
Our team continues to stop by monthly and check in. Each month, meetings are conducted with the employees to address areas of improvement and recognize successes. These sessions foster a sense of belonging and importance among the team, contributing heavily to a more positive and optimistic work environment. Employees look forward to coming to work, and that shows up in high performance and low turnover.
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