In the ever-evolving world of dairy farming, producers are consistently looking for ways to amplify productivity and boost efficiency. Implementing new technologies in dairy farming requires a careful and thoughtful approach. For three forward-thinking producers, the decision to upgrade their parlors was not made lightly.
Drive for Efficiency
Jon-De Farms, located in Baldwin, Wis., embodies a forward-thinking approach to dairy production. In 2023, Jon-De Farms completed the construction of their DeLaval 60-stall rotary. Prior to this new development, the family milked 1,350 cows using two herringbone parlors – a double 10 and a double 16. The main reason for the upgrade was the need for greater efficiency.
“We felt like we weren’t milking enough cows given the inputs we had,” explains Mikayla McGee, the general manager of Jon-De Farms. Since their second parlor was built in 2000, she shares their labor costs have increased significantly.
“It’s hard to manage that many people and direct operations across two parlors,” she says. Both her and her father, Todd Doornink, had always envisioned a rotary as part of their strategic plan, dismissing the idea of robots due to the required scale of their farm.
Making the Choice
The family visited various rotary setups in Wisconsin before making their decision. While equipment and technology were not the deciding factors, McGee says service and parts availability played crucial roles. Ultimately, they chose DeLaval, which was conveniently located nearby.
Two-years post-installation, the family is pleased with their choice, particularly after increasing from a 40-stall to a 60-stall rotary for added flexibility.
“Having that extra downtime just makes our schedules easier,” McGee says.
One major goal of installing the rotary was to reduce the number of employees required on the farm. Although the impact was not as dramatic as anticipated, the number of working hours decreased, contributing to a better work-life balance. The technology was user-friendly, although McGee says the addition of the DeLaval TSR post dip sprayer was the biggest adjustment.
The new setup also improved herd health management. Previously, their vet spent long hours traveling between two barns.
“Our vet used to get here about five in the morning, and we wouldn’t get done until about two o’clock, and he’d kind of go back and forth between the two barns,” she recalls.
Now, they just catch cows off the rotary through the DeLaval sort gates to handle any herd health issues.
Milking now takes five hours, allowing employees to learn other responsibilities.
“Everyone is kind of cross-trained now, which really helps with worker satisfaction,” McGee notes, adding they have achieved their goal of becoming an employer of choice.
While examining return on investment for various purchases differently, building the new parlor was a clear necessity for Jon-De once they realized the inefficiencies of maintaining two separate parlors.
“Just the underlying efficiency that we gained right away out of the gates was amazing,” she says. “We saved a lot in one year just from reduced labor spending.”
With labor costs reduced for John-Dee, their new focus now shifts to feed costs. Previously outsourced, cropping work is now handled in-house with McGee’s husband, Matt, taking charge.
“Labor and feed are the two biggest costs,” she explains. “We feel we’ve tackled labor with the rotary, and now we’re honing in on feed costs.”
Jon-De Farms’ strategic move to a rotary milking parlor illustrates how thoughtful technology integration can drive operational efficiencies in dairy farming. Their experience serves as a testament to the profound impact that technological upgrades can have — enhancing productivity, enriching employee satisfaction and redefining cost management.
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