Fourth-generation dairy farm family expands on success
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 08/09/2010 3:26 PM
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KAUKAUNA, Wis. — Landl Farm near Kaukauna is a fourth-generation dairy with a rich history.
The farm was one of seven stops last month on Minnesota Milk Producers' Summer Bus Tour.
Bob and Audra Landl operate the 400-cow dairy that was purchased by Bob's great-grandfather in 1888. When his great-grandfather died unexpectedly, his great-grandmother and her children took over. Daughter Marie and her husband, Mike Schuessler, married in 1925 and purchased the farm. They increased the milk herd and cleared the remaining acres for crops.
Bob's father, Lloyd, took over in 1960 and increased its acres to 160 owned and 80 rented. He milked 40 cows and built several buildings.
In 1988, Bob and Audra joined the operation and added another 160 acres of cropland. The acres included a larger building site.
The couple had been switching the expanded herd's 200 cows in and out of an 80-tie stall barn before they built a 300-cow free-stall and double-10 parlor in 2007.
They also built a 500-head heifer raising barn in 1995 and expanded the farm's heifer raising capacity five years later with a bred heifer area for 300 head.
The couple now milks 400 cows.
Milk cows are housed in a three-row mono-slope barn. The barn's design allows for an excellent air flow, Bob said. Cows pass two waterers when returning from the parlor and are gated directly to the feed bunk.
Dry cows are housed in sand free stalls with access to a dirt lot while heifers are housed in an old remodeled barn until they are bred. At that time, they are moved to sand free stalls. The caves are raised on the farm in hutches and group pens.
The herd's somatic cell count is around 200,000, he said.
Transition cows are moved from the dry lot to a lot 14 days before calving. The barn is next to the parlor and office, which allows the family and employees to regularly check the cows. He estimates that the cows are checked from 12 to 20 times daily.
There are 14 sand bedded free stalls, a large pack pen and a small calving pen with gates and headlock to work with cattle, he said.
At calving, most cows receive a probiotic and calcium. They are monitored daily for seven to 10 days.
Bob, Audra and four employees handle the farm's operation, he said.
They started a custom heifer raising operation in 1993. It's been a good business, he said. When they started they served four to five dairies. Now they raise 300 to 350 heifers for two farms and have 300 to 350 of their own in the heifer area. They charge $2.30 per animal per day, which includes breeding and vaccinations, Bob said. All calves brought to the farm must be dehorned, double tagged and vaccinated before they arrive. The heifers come to the farm at four months and are returned to their farms at springing.
Because their milk plant doesn't receive rBST milk, the farm discontinued its use, Bob said. At the time, they noticed a five to six pound per cow production drop.
The Landls stress relaxed handling of the cows and quiet parlor, he said. Care is taken in recording cow treatment and activity. Each person working on the farm tracks the information.
They have 400 acres of alfalfa, another 400 of corn and 80 acres in beans, wheat and fallow. Haylage is stored in bunkers. Cows are fed 30 pounds a day. They use highly digestible varieties of corn silage.
Most of the herd's dry hay and grain is purchased, Bob said.