Agri Leader

Dairy
Section
OB Colony - Dairy
continued from page 24
Dairy
Andy Hofer, the dairy manager is quick to point out
that their facilities are at their maximum. “We have 160
lactating cows and only 140 stalls. In summer some
cows can be held outside, but in winter it is a challenge.
The main barn is well ventilated with two 36in air
tubes the full length of the barn including air conditioning
cooling for the summer heat. It was originally built
in the 1970’s, 80ft wide and expanded by lengthening
it to 360ft in 1989. The milking parlour, holding area
and utility/tank room were completely rebuilt the same
year. The parlour is a DeLaval double-six herringbone
with weigh jars. However the Colony men fabricated all
the stalls, gates and even the auto-take off arms – all
stainless steel.
A unique innovation, before a heat exchanger was
purchased, is a large pipe installed over the milk lines
that circulates water to ‘exchange’ heat from the milk
for use in the water system and thereby reducing the
cooling expense for the milk (see photo).
The main cow barn is a four row design with a conveyor
feeder down the middle. Waterers are at both ends of
the feeder. Chopped canola straw is used for bedding.
All calves are raised, the males destined for the beef
feedlot. They are all housed in individual hutches after
the first 2 or 3 days in the warm calf barn maternity
pens. “We like the late weaning schedule for our
calves.”
They are on whole milk (3 litres, twice a day), and Hi-
Pro 17% Calf Ration – a grain blend that is a Hi-Pro
Advantage-4 Milk Supplement for 11 weeks. At 9 weeks
Calf hutches, group calf pens and heifer yard at OB Colony
AGRI LEADER » 2016
31