“The goal of the Innovation Dairy Tour was to bring producers from across the country onto dairies to see how their peers are operating efficient and profitable dairies,” said Matt Daley, president and chief executive officer of GEA Farm Technologies. “By networking with other dairy producers and the GEA Farm Technologies team, producers learned first-hand how to improve parlor efficiency, milk quality and overall herd performance.”

Dairies visited on the tour and the technologies showcased are as follows:

Gingrich Meadows Dairy, Leroy, Mich.: Owned by Amy Martin and Shawn Gingrich, this new facility was built in April 2012 and now milks 320 Holsteins with two MIone four-box robotic milking systems. Amy Martin shared that the cows have transitioned into the system easily and that they have been able to reallocate labor resources to other areas of the operation.

Hillhaven Farms, Edmore, Mich.: This facility started in 1998 by Mike Rasmussen. At the time, the producers built a 2 x 16 Magnum 40 Herringbone Parlor, and later upgraded to DemaTron 70 detachers. With the goal of improved milk quality and parlor efficiency, the owners recently added the ApolloTM MilkSystem and FutureCowTM Prep System.

Son Rise Farm, Westphalia, Mich.: John and Debbie Feldpausch began this calf facility in February 2010. Today, these calf growers raise about 200 calves in individual calf hutches and 350 calves on four DairyFeed Automated Quattro Calf Feeders. They also utilize a UV Pure, which uses ultraviolet light to purify calf milk – killing harmful bacteria while maintaining the vital nutrients naturally found in the milk. The growers credit the automated feeding system as a more efficient option for calf raising.

Vanderploeg Holsteins, Ithaca, Mich.: This 72 stall AutoRotor Performer parlor was installed in October 2012 by Klaus, Mares and Tony Vanderploeg. Today, 2,250 Holsteins average 87 pounds of milk per head per day in the facility.

Farm managers at the facility say that the rotary parlor has improved efficiency and reduced the number of employees needed in the parlor. Cows enter the rotary parlor one at a time through a system of gates and are then rotated to employees who each have a designated task. Through the system, four employees are able to milk 72 cows in an eight minute span.