Welcome to the Loe Farm
Heifer Raising Area |
When the two heifer pens in the calf barn
are full the heifers are moved to 4 super
hutches holding 6 -10 heifers. They are vaccinated with
a 9-way modified live vaccine. These pens have a covered-bedded
pack. They share common walls that are board fences. Hutches are
cleaned once or twice a year depending on farm workload. Feeding is
done along a raised feed bunk. Feed consists of TMR not
consumed by lactating herd plus a heifer TMR. Waterers are
frost-free ball type |
| Heifers are moved to a large open field
that is downhill from the lactating barn. Some water drains towards
one corner of the field and accumulates in puddles. This water comes
from the end of the main barn where manure is scraped. Heifers are
fed TMR along a fenceline feeder. This is about 30 feet long with
two ball type waterers at each end. |
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| When heifers are large enough for breeding
they are moved to the breeding pen. This is a long shed barn with an
area of headlocks along the feedbunk. A bull is kept in this area
for breeding and is only used for the heifers. Bulls are replaced
based on temperament and age. New bulls come from the Doe Farm. A
bedded pack is maintained under the shed. Bedding is added once a
week and the barn is cleaned at least once a year. Feeding of the
TMR is done along the feedbunk that is 35 feet long. |
| When heifers are confirmed pregnant they
receive a vaccination of 9-way killed vaccine and are trucked to a
ten-acre pasture behind the barn. They are fed daily in raised feed
bunks. Water is from a running stream with drainage from the dry cow
area of the neighboring farm and runs all year long. Once a week
when heifers that look close to calving are brought down and put in
the dry cow/maternity/sick pen of the calf barn. On the average they
calve within 7-10 days. |
A yearling heifer recently broke it’s leg, was slaughtered at a USDA
inspected slaughter facility and tested positive for a violative
residue. The farm owners were perplexed because the animal had not
been treated with antibiotics or vaccinated within the past six to
eight months. |
Management areas of the Loe Farm:
Loe Farm Introduction
Loe Maternity pen and calf area
Loe Lactating Cow Herd
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