Parlor Talk: How Are You Preparing for Planting Season?

Dan and Jean Gaul are part owners of Gaul’s Hillside Holsteins with their two sons Tony and Luke. Together they manage the operation along with growing their custom chopping, bagging and roller milling operation in Holy Cross, Iowa.

A Family Affair

Dan feeds and cares for the bottle calves, assists milk, plants and harvests corn and keeps a sharp eye over the entire herd. Jean milks cows, operates the chopper and discbine and keeps all the record books up to par. Tony runs the merger and baler, takes care of the bucket calves, oversees cow care and milks cows. Lukemilks cows and mixes all the feed for all the lactating herd and heifers. He also plants corn and operates the sprayer.

Their daughter Melissa works off the farm at their local vet clinic. When Melissa and her fiancé Collin are not at their day jobs, they help by milking cows and assist with any task that is needed to be completed to help everything run smoothly.

Q: How are you preparing for planting season?

“This year we have added onto our parlor as a unique way to prepare for planting season. The parlor has gone from a double 12 parallel system to a double 16. We added on in the hopes to cut down on milking time and gain more time for working in the fields. As of now we are doing routine maintenance and completing any needed repairs on all planting and hay equipment. We own 600 acres divided up by 200 acres of hay, 240 acres of corn, 60 acres of beans and the remaining ground in pasture.”