Two busloads of dairy producers and industry representatives crisscrossed through southwestern Ontario on Sept. 16 to see improvements made on area dairies.Hosted by the Progressive Dairy Operators, this mini-bus tour was held in conjunction with Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, which took place earlier in the week in Woodstock, Ontario.
The four stops on the tour included:
Birchlawn Farms Ltd. – Operated by the Terpstra family, this farm milks 450 cows using a 40-cow rotary parlour. Last year, the family installed a manure digester.
It is producing 300 kilowatts of hydro, as well as bedding for the cows and heat for hot water, the shop and barns.
St. Brigid’s Dairy Ltd. – This organic dairy is operated by Bill and Cindy Van Nes.
They are milking 260 cows, which are kept on pasture most of the year.
A new loose housing barn and swing-20 parlour was built in 2010.
Evergreen Holsteins – Robert and Andrea Van Nes milk 440 cows at this dairy. Last year, the farm installed 
a manure composter that turns separated manure solids into compost in 28 hours.
The compost is used for bedding. Nearby, a new five-row, all steel heifer barn was completed in January 2011.
The barn is designed with the option to double in size to a 10-row, cross-ventilated barn for milking cows.
Conlee Farms – After a devastating barn fire in the spring of 2010, owners Ralph and Paulette Coneybeare built a new slatted floor freestall barn with two robotic milking units, and a unique maternity and special-needs pen area. PD
PHOTOS
PHOTO 1: Tour attendees listen as Birchlawn Farms’ nutritionist shares ration information before they get a look at the milking herd’s freestall facilities.
PHOTO 2: Installed last year, this manure digester at Birchlawn Farms provides hydro, heat and bedding for the dairy.
PHOTO 3: These easy- to-maneuver compression gates were one of many highlights at Conlee Farms’ new freestall barn.
PHOTO 4: Afternoon refreshments were enjoyed as tour participants took a look at Evergreen Holsteins’ new five-row, all steel heifer barn.
PHOTO 5: Bill Van Nes took the tour group out to pasture as he explained why he decided to operate an organic grazing herd. Photos by PD Editor Karen Lee
