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milking,"
said Gilmer, who recalled that his father started the dairy in the mid
1950s with four or five cows that had to be hand milked.
Prior
to the new double 10 system, the Gilmers used a double six herringbone.
The
Gilmers have a 5200-gallon tank system to store the milk, which is
picked up every other day.
In
addition to the new milking facility, another major project for the farm
is the construction of a new waste management system.
"We’re
building a slurry storage tank that has 120 days worth of storage,"
said Gilmer. "We will incorporate the waste into our fertilization
practices."
The
new system, while it may be more difficult to construct than a lagoon,
will pay off immediately with its ease of management.
The
tank itself will outlast any lagoon that could be constructed on the
property. An added benefit will be the low maintenance of the tank
compared to what it would take to keep up a lagoon.
Maximum
Productivity
Will
uses his recent education to track herd records. He crunches the numbers
and plans accordingly.
He
keeps up with such figures as the amount of feed ingredients fed per
head per day, the number of replacement heifers and where they are,
breeding data, milk productivity, and soil test analyses.
Keeping
track of the farm’s records helps to streamline the entire process.
One
way to maximize productivity is to group the farm’s 220 Holstein cows
into smaller lots.
"We
divide the herd into groups, according to production," said Will.
The
highest producing cows are grouped together as are those that are late
in lactation—those that have been in production for some time.
This
grouping of the cows allows the Gilmers to feed according each group’s
needs.
The
Gilmers feed for maximum productivity at all times. The higher producing
cows benefit from more feed or changes in formulation. The Gilmers
benefit by reducing the total amount of feed given to the lower
producing cows, thereby reducing their overall feed costs.
Part
of the Equation
As
with most farms, dairy cows are only part of the family farm equation.
The Gilmers grow 250 acres of corn and 80 acres of oats that they will
chop or bale and wrap.
"We
experiment with baleage products," said Gilmer. "We are always
looking for something that works better."
Gilmer
has tried many different ways to bale and wrap various forage products.
Some were more successful than others.
He
has tried forage soybeans, wheat, oats, Bermuda grass, and rye grass.
This
experimentation has a practical application. Gilmer is looking for an
alternative to corn silage, due to rising input costs.
The
Gilmers use silage, baleage or hay as part of their total mixed ration
for their herd.
Gilmer
noted that planning the feed for the herd takes top priority. It is
always on his mind.
"It’s
an everyday thing trying to plan ahead," said Gilmer. "You’ve
got to plan your feed because it’s got to last until the next
crop."
The
Gilmers rely on the Fayette Farmers Co-op in neighboring Fayette County
for many of their farming needs and services.
David’s
wife, Lin, keeps the books for the farm. Will’s wife, Joni, teaches
school in nearby Vernon.
The
Gilmers employ four full-time workers and one part-time helper for the
weekend.
Susie
Sims is a freelance writer from Haleyville. |
