The Wisconsin Holstein Association (WHA) has scheduled this year’s barn meetings for March 16, March 23 and March 24. This year’s meetings will feature a discussion on calf care from Kelli Cull, of Budjon Farms, and Dr. Sheila McGuirk, veterinarian and faculty member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
The first of three meetings will be held at Rabur Holsteins, the Paul and Darlene Buhr Family farm of Viroqua. The Buhr family has been involved in the registered Holstein business since 1958, when Paul’s father purchased his first dairy cow and began farming.
Rabur Holsteins is home to 300 acres and 65 milking females, with 10 dry cows and 120 head of youngstock. The herd’s Breed Association Average (BAA) is 110 percent and has a Rolling Herd Average (RHA) of 27,000 pounds of milk. The Buhrs have been a Progressive Breeders Registry recognition herd for 31 years, and a Progressive Genetics Award herd for 19 years. Paul has bred 30 gold medal dams.
Paul and Darlene will be opening their barn doors at noon Tuesday, March 16. They ask that all Holstein enthusiasts join them for cows, camaraderie, a presentation by Cull on calf care and the celebration of Paul’s birthday. To get to the farm from Viroqua, go north on U.S. Highway 14 to County Road BB. Go east a half mile, north on Railroad Avenue a half mile, east on Cherry Grove three miles and south on Orchard Road a half mile.
The second meeting will be hosted by Hilrose Holsteins. Hilrose has been home to the Joe and Chris Brantmeier Family since 1981, when the farm was purchased from Joe’s father, Hilard. A family operation, Hilrose is managed by Joe and his two sons, Andy and Jeff.
The farm is home to 90 milking animals, with an additional 20 dry cows and 200 head of youngstock. The herd’s RHA is 30,182 pounds of milk, with 3.9 percent fat and 3.0 percent protein test. The Hilrose herd boasts a 110.8 percent BAA with 29 Excellent, 52 Very Good and only 11 Good Plus cows.
The quality continues to show through this 85 percent homebred herd with 19 years of Progressive Breeders Registry recognition, as well as two years of Progressive Genetics Award recognition. Hilrose Holsteins has been named a Herd of Excellence by Holstein USA the past two years.
The Joe and Chris Brantmeier Family welcome Holstein enthusiasts to Hilrose Holsteins at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23. McGuirk and Cull will be in attendance to discuss calf care and, following the meeting, guests are welcome to lunch at The Outpost in Sherwood. To get to the farm, take State Highway 114 into Sherwood. Go north on County Road M, first farm on the right.
The third and final meeting will be held at Budjon Farms, hosted by the Cull family. Budjon Farms is located in Lomira, in east-central Wisconsin, and has been owned in a 50-50 partnership between John and Mary, and Tom and Kelli Cull since 2003.
The farm is No. 1 in the country for BAA for its herd size, at 112.6 percent. Budjon Farms is home to Holsteins and Jerseys, and maintains an RHA of 23,000 pounds of milk. The Culls market their cattle and genetics frequently, from sale consignments to on-farm sales, embryos and herd bulls. They work an extensive flush and in vitro fertilization program with a core group of donors, mainly from the Elegance family, but also with some additional outlier individuals.
The Culls recently completed a new calf barn and milk house, complete with hutches and a calf warming room. Other facility highlights include a renovated weaning barn for calves, a 150 by 50 heifer shed for 6 months and older heifers, an indoor heated wash rack, a foot bath, seven box stalls with additional pack stalls for show cows, a pack barn for dry cows and a newly renovated freestall barn for breeding age heifers. Along with these facilities, the Culls run approximately 500 acres of cropland, which feeds the animals at the main farm, as well as two additional satellite farms.
Co-owner Cull will be the keynote calf speaker, along with McGuirk. Their emphasis will be getting back to basics with calves. They are hoping to allow guests the hands-on experience of what their calf protocols are, including their daily routine, treatments, vaccination protocols, bedding – both in hutches and weaning barn, hot and cold weather routines, weaning protocols and more. Since Budjon is Cull’s home farm, she wants to allow attendees to really see and ask questions about anything done on the farm, or questions for McGuirk.
The Cull family welcomes Holstein enthusiasts and will host their barn meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 24. To get to Budjon Farms from Lomira, go south on State Highway 175 about two miles to Soo Road. Turn left on Soo Road, and farm is on right side past railroad tracks.
For questions regarding these meetings or other WHA events, contact the WHA office at 1-800-223-4269 or visit the Web at www.wisholsteins.com.
