Wayne County Top herds include Spring Run Farm represented by Tom Wolf, (Ayrshires) Gary Dotterer, represented by Kevin Dotterer (Brown Swiss) Ben Alli Farm Jerseys, represented by Lisa Mangun (3x Jersey herd) and Cantendo/Grazeland Jerseys, represented by Cheryl King (2x Jerseys)
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SMITHVILLE, Ohio — Over the past 50 years, the Wayne County Dairy Service Unit has recognized the county’s outstanding producers during their annual banquet.
In 2013, they plan to recognize the county’s best-managed dairy farms as well. Matt Kauffman, a member of the Dairy Service Unit board announced the criteria for the new award during the group’s annual banquet March 12 at The Barn Restaurant.
Kauffman said the new award would not only recognize producers for great production, but milk quality and reproduction efficiencies.
How it works
He said the award would be broken down in to production groups, with a point system based on an increase in the rolling herd average, change in milk, fat and protein production from the previous year, somatic cell count, calving interval, days to first service, conception rates, heat detection, age at first calving and culling rate, minus those animals sold for dairy purposes.
Criteria will be different across the breeds, and whether the herd is on a 2x or 3x milking schedule will also be considered. Mixed herds will be scored separately.
The Dairy Service Unit recognized several Wayne County dairy producers for their accomplishments. Sharo-Dan Farm was recognized as the county’s top 3x Holstein herd with 29,135 pounds of milk, 1064 pounds of fat and 917 pounds of protein.
Elmer Steiner was recognized for the county’s top 2x Holstein herd with 27,790 pounds of milk, 980 pounds of fat and 849 pounds of protein. The top Holstein cow owned by Jim Ann Farm produced 47,606 pounds of energy corrected milk, 2,248 pounds of fat and 1,010 pounds of protein.
Somatic cell count
Gregg Troyer was recognized for the lowest somatic cell count among Holstein herds in the county. Cantendo/Grazeland Acres was recognized as the county’s top 2x Jersey herd and had the top Jersey cow. Their herd produced 19,833 pounds of milk, 919 pounds of fat and 686 pounds of protein.
They also had the top Jersey cow for the county with a completed a record of 37,431 pounds of milk, 1671 pounds of fat and 970 pounds of protein. Roy Mangun had the top 3x Jersey herd in the county with 19,308 pounds of energy corrected milk, 858 pounds of fat and 654 pounds of protein.
Schirm Jersey Farm was recognized for the lowest somatic cell count among Jersey herds in the county. Spring Run Farm had the top Ayrshire herd in the county with 16,807 pounds of energy correctedmilk, 628 pounds of fat and 533 pounds of protein.
They were also recognized for the lowest somatic cell count among Ayrshire herds in the county. Frankenberg Farm had the top Ayrshire cow with 26,132 pounds of energy corrected milk, 931 pounds of fat and 797 pounds of protein.
Brown Swiss
Gary Dotterer had the top Brown Swiss herd with 22,276 pounds of energy corrected milk, 962 pounds of fat and 749 pounds of protein. Dotterer was also recognized for the lowest somatic cell count among Brown Swiss herds in the county.
Brook Hollow Farm had the top Brown Swiss cow with 41,293 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,557 pounds of fat and 1,221 pounds of protein. Mark and Laura Suttle had the top Guernsey with 23,643 pounds of energy corrected milk, 943 pounds of fat and 687 pounds of protein.
Sharo-Dan Farm was recognized as the top 3x mixed herd with 26,426 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,024 pounds of fat and 870 pounds of protein. They also had the top mixed breed cow with 35,806 pounds of energy corrected milk, 1,295 pounds of fat and 1,146 pounds of protein.
Amstutz Farms LLC was recognized as the top 2x mixed herd with 23,180 pounds of energy corrected milk, 873 pounds of fat and 713 pounds of protein. Amstutz also was recognized for the lowest somatic cell count among mixed herds in the county.
Brian Winters, General Manager, Ohio DHI said that 2011 was a good year for the DHI cooperative, with 925 herds totaling 142,000 cows on test, and cow numbers on test continue to rise. Winters added that products such as PC DART Pocket Dairy and Bio Pryn Blood Pregnancy testing are gaining popularity among producers.
Elected to serve on the Wayne County Dairy Service Unit board were Art Stoller, Jeremy Rohr, and Mike Hunsberger. Dianne Shoemaker, OSU Extension Dairy Specialist, encouraged producers to take part in the Farm Bench Mark Analysis program that is available at no cost to producers due to a grant that the university received to offset the cost of the program.
This program assists dairy farmers in reviewing the financial aspects of their dairy operation and make decisions to help improve their financial situation. She also encouraged young producers in the group to take part in the Dairy Roundtable Discussions that are being held.
Tom Stocksdale announced that the 2012 Dairy Twilight Tour would be held at Pine Tree Dairy, owned by Matt Steiner and family, of Rittman, on July 19.
