Dairy Operations

The dairy complex at Miner Institute consists of four barns. A 160-cow freestall barn was built in 1970 for dairy cows but now houses pregnant dairy heifers and far-off dry cows. This barn has been modernized over the years including installation of sidewall curtains for improved ventilation.  Further modifications will be made to improve its usefulness. A freestall dry cow barn with calving pens was constructed in 1999; this barn houses heifers from five months through breeding age, and close-up dry cows. We also have a greenhouse barn built in 1993 for calves from weaning through four months.

Blueprint of New Dairy Barn

Dairy calves are raised from birth to weaning in outdoor hutches. In the summer months the calves are fed twice daily, while in winter months they are fed three times a day. Calf weights are recorded weekly to monitor average daily gain, and feed quantities are adjusted accordingly. Weaning is at 200 lbs, which is usually at 6 to 7 weeks of age.

Field crop acreages for 2005 are 160 acres of corn, 160 acres of alfalfa-grass, 55 acres of alfalfa-grass seedings, and 205 acres of grass. Over 95% of the forage produced on the farm is harvested as silage, with the remainder harvested as dry hay. The alfalfa-grass is intensively managed, with a 32- to 35-day interval between harvests for first through third cuts. In some years, a fourth cutting is taken at a minimum of a 45-day harvest interval. Miner Institute follows a Nutrient Management Plan, and for many years has carefully monitored nutrient inputs and outputs from the farm operation.