Barns & Equipment

More than 100 years ago, Minglewood Inc. began as a dairy operation with only six cows, a small tiestall barn and a lot of hope. Their current operation is a far cry from their humble beginning in 1894. Today, owners Kevin and Roxann Solum and their family milk 1,200 Holstein cows, manage eight DeLaval robotic milking systems and farm 2,800 acres of crops near Deer Park, Wisconsin.

“That works well for them but not for me,” is a saying common in the ag and dairy industries. With different farm goals and available resources, many farmers find themselves doing things similar to their fellow producers, but with slight variations.

An extended warranty with unlimited miles good for three years was offered as an additional option as I sat with the money guy wrestling over the terms of purchase on a 6-year-old pickup back in February of 2012.

Keeping cows in the herd longer equates to additional profits of $150 per cow, per lactation. Increasing the productive life of a dairy cow is achieved through genetic selection, management and a comfortable environment.

When making a change as big as a new barn, you’ve been planning for years before even breaking ground.

1. Bedding

Winter temperatures bring additional challenges and considerations to the table for dairy producers.