HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '90, 1990-03-21, Page 10A10. FARMING ‘90, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990.
Hungry heifers
Ready girls?
Besides the cows, the calves need to be fed and the task has fallen to Koos this evening. Armed with
pailsand milk, each calf is quickly fed. Calves at Verburgs are fed milk until they are two months old
and then weaned.
With six milkers going at once, Tony is on the move taking off
and putting on milkers. Usually two men milk at Verburgs down
each of the two rows of stalls where the cows are chained up.
Also in this picture, the stable cleaners running down behind
each aisle can be seen. These stable cleaners transport the
manure into a deep pit which is air operated. Once the manure is
in the pit, air pressure pumps it up into a wide circular pit
outside where it can easily be removed in spring to spread as
fertilizer on the fields.
For the Verburgs, the labour isn’t as intense as other dairy operations
because they have more men to share the work. And they like it this way
because it makes it easier to get away for an afternoon.
As well, Tony and Koos specialize in certain areas of running the farm,
Tony is largely in charge of the cattle records and the breeding of the Holstein
herd while Koos is responsible for the field work and mechanical needs of the
farm.
It makes for a good partnership and the pair have been successful. In the
last few years, several additions have been made to the main barn including
the new manure system, a few more tie-stalls for the milking cows and the
extra piece where the calves are kept. The farm also includes two other barns
on other properties where heifers are kept.
COME & MEET THE
JOHN DEERE
TEAM
Preparing
Getting ready for milking is an
easy process. Verburgs use six
milkers in their tie-stall barn
and the milkers are automati
cally sanitized after every
milking. As well, the cooler is
cleaned after every milk pick
up which occurs every two
days. Tony will also prepare a
disinfecting udder wash before
milking to be used to clean the
cows’ udders before the milk
ers are placed on. The cleaning
also stimulates the cattle to let
their milk down.
HIS
HURON FEEDING
SYSTEMS
now has
Acompletelineofgrain,
dairy and stabling
equipment
“Call and ask about a special
seminar on in bin drying by
DMC reps to be held end of
March'
JOSEPH SEILI
BRUSSELS 887-6289
Charles C.
Culbert
• Backhoeing &
Tiling
• Drains, field
drains
• Septic tanks &
weeper beds
Call:
529-7571
R.R.6
Goderich
Pictured above [left to right]: Randy McGregor, Jim Taylor, Brian McGregor, Tom Pollard,
Kyle Pewtress, Keith Hodgkinson, Todd Hoggart, Brian McBurney and Henry Winters.
NOW SERVING BLYTH & AREA
FOR OVER 16 YEARS
I u I HURON
I——J TRACTOR BLYTH, ONTARIO
523-4244
PARTS CENTRE