vir clar farms overview
TRANSCRIPT
Farm Ownership
Vir-Clair is owned by Gary and Rose Boyke
They are pictured here with their children, Katie (Grant), J.R., Angie (Ryan), and Tiffany
Where it all began…
� Vir-Clar Farms began in 1949 when Gary’s parents purchased the farm from his grandparents.
� They milked 13 Guernsey cows and rented a bull.
� In 1950 the farm purchased a registered Holstein calf.
The First Expansion
� Gary joined the operation in 1974 and the herd size was doubled to 60 cows.
� The herd remained the same size from 1974-1995.
� The focus through these years was on genetics. Vir-Clar put over 100 bulls in A.I.
The Herd Grows Again
� In 1995, Gary and Rose bought out Gary’s parents and expanded the herd to 300 cows.
� A new free-stall barn was built.
� In 1997, they added another 200 cows, and changed the parlor from a double 8 to a double 10.
Today at Vir-Clar
� 1,180 cows milking, 1350 total
� 27,619 rolling herd average
� Butterfat 3.71 Protein 3.07
� Milk shipped to Grande Cheese
� 65 % Registered
Arial View of Vir-Clar
� Photo of 2005 Fond du Lac County Breakfast on the Farm
� Last free-stall barn under construction in the background
Main Milking Parlor
� Double 20
Westphalia Surge
� ID as cows enter the
parlor
� 3x per day milking
� Dairy Comp 305
software is used to
manage the herd
� Labor efficient
Free Stall Barns
Mixing fans and sprinklers
Bedding: digested/separated solids
� First Barn
� 6 rows, 740 stalls
� 107’ x 408’
� Curtain sided, natural ventilation
� Second Barn
� 6 rows, 680 stalls
� 125’ x 708’
� Curtain sided, tunnel ventilation
Calving Pens
� 6 Individual pens for calving.
� Cleaned and disinfected between cows.
� Note fans on back wall for tunnel ventilation.
Herdsman Office
� Office located above animals for observation.
� Large windows allow for constant monitoring.
� Area contains the computer for tracking cow data.
Methane Digester
� Three years of planning.
� Location of the farm to residential was a determining factor.
� Goal was to reduce odor and be on the cutting edge of technology.
The Process - 3
� Automatic scraper pulls manure to the end of the barn.
� Cows easily step over the scraper.
� Manure falls into concrete holding area below the floor.
The Process - 5
� Manure is stirred and heated.
� Methane gas is produced and captured under
the inflatable roof.
� Manure can be transferred between tanks.
The Process - 6
� Gas is pulled from the digester and is burned as the only
fuel source for a Caterpillar engine.
� The engine then powers a high capacity generator.
The Process - 7
� Manure is gravity fed to separator building.
� Moisture is removed from the manure and new bedding
is conveyed to storage pile.
� Separated solids are used as bedding for the cows.
Digester Summary
� Four ways of value
� Electricity sold – today over 300 homes
� Separated solids used for bedding
� Separated solids sold to other producers for
bedding
� Less manure hauling expense