ADAMSVILLE, Pa. — Crawford County dairymen Jeff and Brenda Raney will be hosting an open house at their farm July 11.
J-RA Holsteins is located just miles from the Ohio border in Adamsville, Pennsylvania.
The Raneys moved to Crawford County from Lawrence County in 1980, becoming herdsman for Black-Pond Farm (Chuck Black). Four years later, a farm in Adamsville became available, and the couple begin dairying for themselves.
Top breeding
Since that time, Jeff and Brenda have bred an exceptional herd of cattle that carry the J-RA prefix, including 83 Very Goods and 18 Excellents (4 at EX-91, 2 at EX-92, and 2 at EX-93).
J-RA Damion Karli EX-93 is a herd stand-out, with a most recent lactation record of 37,292 pounds of milk, 1,543 pounds of 4.1% fat, and 1,263 pounds of 3.3% protein. She has also been named supreme champion at both the Lawrence and Crawford county fairs in 2012.
The Raney family has also developed a herd that produces remarkably as well. The herd’s current DHIA record stands at 25,690 pounds of milk, 957 pounds (3.7%) of fat and 793 (3.1%) pounds of protein.
The Raneys farm about 100 acres of corn and soybeans, as well as making a fair amount of alfalfa as well.
New barn
Jeff and Brenda’s son Adam and his wife Michele (as well as daughter Erin and her husband Tom Uber when possible) have become increasingly more involved on the farm, and the Raneys realized that changes to their tie-stall facility were needed to facilitate cow comfort, as well as make it more labor efficient.
So the Raneys built a new freestall barn in the fall of 2013, and have been pleased with the resulting overall increases in cow comfort, lowered somatic cell count, and the many ways in which the facility has eased labor intensity.
Visit the farm
The Raney family is hosting an open house July 11, at 7 p.m. This open house is being held in conjunction with the Crawford County Holstein picnic, but is open to all in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York who would like to attend.
Meat, beverages, and table service will be provided; those attending are asked to bring a dish to share. For more information or directions, contact Elaine Duncan, 814-573-0576, or Tom Uber, 814-777-3777.
