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For the past decade, the National Dairy Shrine has recognized young dairy producers ages 21 to 45 for their outstanding dairy farming practices. Each recipient receives a $2,000 educational travel award to use out-of-state to observe a dairy activity such as a management conference, trade show, seminar, or dairy herd visit to gain knowledge or new ideas to implement in their dairy operation.
This year’s winners are Brian and Heidi Lantzky of Hawkeye, Iowa, in the 300-cow-and-under division and Richard and Jennifer Avila of Dalhart, Texas, in the 300-cow-and-over division. They will be honored during the National Dairy Shrine Annual Banquet on October 1, 2009, at World Dairy Expo.
Small Herd Division
Brian and Heidi Lantzky have demonstrated that even when there isn’t a home farm to go back to, with a plan and a lot of determination, one can begin a dairy and succeed. Brian grew up on a swine operation and milked Holsteins for neighbors, and Heidi grew up on a grade Holstein dairy and always knew she wanted to be a dairy producer. Both graduated from Northeast Iowa Community College with degrees in dairy herd management and began working as herdspeople before striking out on their own. They worked together for two years at various dairies and gained practical management experience before they began to dairy on their own.
In 1998, Hei-Bri Jerseys was formed, and the Lantzkys began milking 75 registered Jersey cows on a rented dairy. In 2004, they purchased their own farm in Hawkeye, Iowa, built a 140-cow compost-bedded barn, and remodeled a farrowing barn into a double-12 parlor and a holding pen. Today, the milking herd has nearly doubled from internal herd growth and a few purchases to 145 milking registered Jerseys and 130 replacements.
The Lantzkys keep their goal in sight: Maximize production at the greatest profit and continue to increase genetic value with every new generation and continue to carry a reputation for well-grown heifers. In 2008, the herd had an AJCA lactation average of 18,800 M, 865 F, and 674 P on 104 cows. They strive to calve their heifers at the young age of 1 year and 9 months old (21 months) allowing them to take advantage of the Jersey’s reproductive efficiency and longer productive life.
To improve genetics more quickly, the Lantzkys have taken an aggressive approach to embryo transfer. They flush the top end of the herd frequently and use the lower end of the herd as recipients. The couple purchases high-quality embryos from outside to keep the genetics diversified. A strong emphasis is put on reproduction. In 2007, the herd had a 32 percent pregnancy rate. The herd is bred to 100 percent A.I. sires, and they have placed three bulls into A.I. sampling programs out of one of their favorite cows, Hei-Bri Paramount Emory.
The couple was honored in 2003 with the Young Jersey Breeder Award from the American Jersey Cattle Association. The herd is enrolled on the association’s REAP program to utilize animal ID, performance evaluations, along with Jersey-specific milk marketing. They were honored by Swiss Valley Farms in 2002 as Young Cooperators and have been involved on the planning committee for the leadership conferences. They have traveled to Washington D.C. to meet both their Congressional representatives and Iowa state representatives to discuss dairy issues.
By hosting tours at their farm, Heidi and Brian and their two daughters, Brittany, 18, and Dayle, 11, take an active role in educating the public about the dairy industry. They want to connect with the consumer on a personal level and show where their food comes from.
Large Herd Division
Richard and Jennifer Avila measure the progress of their 2,100-cow herd by the successful growth of their operation that was achieved without compromising per-cow production, reproductive efficiency, or age of first-lactation animals entering the milking herd. Intense attention to those details is perhaps one of the most effective drivers of the Avi-Lanche Jersey expansion in recent years. The couple co-founded their dairy in 1993, housing their animals within Jennifer’s parents’ herd — D&E Jerseys, Hilmar, Calif. Throughout the next 12 years, they were an integral part of the management team at the California dairy, working closely with both the employees and cow care at the two facilities in Hilmar. Within their own herd, the couple focused on genetic improvement of their cattle and the steady expansion of herd numbers, principally from internal growth.
In 2006, the Avilas made the decision to take their herd and a portion of the D&E Jersey herd and move 1,800 miles to Dalhart, to capitalize on the opening of the new Hilmar Cheese plant. While Jennifer’s parents, Don and Elsa Sherman, continue to dairy in California, Richard and Jennifer are the sole managers of the Avi-Lanche herd.
The facilities were constructed in 2006 with a capacity for 2,400 milking animals. They began milking in February 2007 with approximately 600 cows. Today, they are milking over 2,100 cows at the facility and plan to reach capacity in the fall of 2009. The herd is milked in a double-30 parallel parlor and are housed in Saudi-type barns with curtains and bedded with sand.
Production per cow per day is the number one goal of the Avilas. They aim for 52 pounds of milk per cow per day to allow the least amount of stress for the cow which also results in a healthier, longer-lasting herd with greater profit potential. The herd maintains a 1 percent sick cow rate which positively impacts profitability by keeping vet costs low. The Avila’s strive for an average age of first calving of 23 months and a calving interval of 13.3 months. The cull rate for the herd is a low 9 percent.
Richard and Jennifer are continuing a multigeneration, long-term outlook in the dairy business. They are raising their two daughters, Sidney, 13, and Caitlin, 11, on the farm.
Applications for the 2010 awards are due March 15, 2010. For more information, contact Dr. David Selner, Executive Director, at info@dairyshrine.com or download the applications from www.dairyshrine.org.
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