. The herd
is run by Albert Jr and Joe
Mills and Albert Jr. is employed as the farm manager, he
attended the University of Illinois and received a degree in 1995
in Agricultural Mechanization and a minor in Animal Sciences. He
has been the farm manager since 1996. Al Jr. and Rhonda now have three
kids: Briley is 6, and AJ 4, and Caden 2
Elizabeth also attended the University
of Illinois, graduating in 1998, and obtained a degree in Agricultural
Communications with an emphasis in advertising. She is now employed
at Quality Chekd Dairies in Naperville, IL and married James Dorn
in Sept 2002. They have one son JT(James Thomas II) born 3-2-06
and They are expecting their second child in April.
Victoria
graduated from Cornell with a major in Animal Science and is now
working on there farm in Popular Grove IL. Vicky married
Ryan Stohlquist in October 2003, so now Stohl-Stein Range Riley-Red
TW is homebred. They advertise under Stohl-Len Farms, and work with
us. They specialize in heifers at this time. Ryan and Vicky breed
and sell show pigs they have a lage on farm sale in the spring and
have recently started a internet sale in the fall.
Andrew
is a graduate from the University of Illinois, ag engineering
and ag sciences (5-year program, double major, will have it done
in 4, ADSA -SAD national president, national treasurer of Ag Engineering
club, top junior in Ag Engineering, Outstanding Sophomore Illini
Dairy Club, U of I judging team. Currently he lives in Wasco
and is Project Facilities Manager for Surge
Al
serves on several local advisory boards, and is a Farm Bureau state
representative. In April 2007 the Village of Campton was formed
and Al is a Village Trustee, currently up for election. In March
2008 Al will Travel to Ceck republic, Ukraine, and Poland with the
Illinois Ag Leadership program.
Breeding:
The farm's breeding program starts with breeding all the animals
from the top ten bulls in the Red and White andHolstein breed. We
combine breeding for protein and production. Bulls are also chosen
for PTAP and PTAF.
We aim to produce VG and Excellent mammary systems. 50% of our herd
are P9's (top 10% of the Holstein breed) while one percent is in
the top one percent of the breed for CTPI. To complement our breeding
program an intensive flush program has been implemented. This program
was started in 1992 and 95% of the flushing is done on the home
farm.
Feeding:
10years ago, a Rissler self-contained in-barn Total Mixed Rations
(TMR) cart was purchased and proved very beneficial for increased
milk production. Currently, the herd is fed six times a day with
a production level goal of 85# of milk, 4.0% fat and 3.6% of protein.
The TMR cart mix includes corn silage, haylage, cottonseed, and
brewers grain. One of the most unique aspects of our farm is living
in to a large city. The dairy cows are housed in a 40-cow stanchion
barn that includes 2 feet by 3 feet of tiled feeding space in front
of each animal. Twenty-three percent protein hay is also fed twice
daily to the cows.
The heifers are part of a grower program with a ration of 1:1:1
(corn, oats, and protein). The animals are also fed Bovatech protein
at 18% crude protein. The heifers are housed in heifer runs which
allows feeding outside at one end, while they obtain cover and bedding
at the other. This allows for simple clean up as well as easy separation
of heifers. The same age animals are kept together, preventing fighting
for feed.
The baby calves, 0-3 months, are fed a diet of
high protein, high digestible hay, calf starter and two quarts of
milk. The calves are kept in self-contained hutches, which greatly
prevent the spread of diseases.
The dry cows receive ample amounts of long-stemmed
dry hay continuously throughout their dry period. The pre-fresh
animals are given ½ the amount of the milking cows TMR rations,
as well as added salt and selenium to keep the proper balance of
nutrients before calving. Dry cows are kept in a separate facility,
which entails a two-acre pasture..
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