September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
A dairy experience abroad
Opitzes, Newells visit dairy farms in Scotland, Ireland
During the first two weeks of April, Opitz’s grandparents, Shirley and Gene Newell (above), and parents, Joseph Opitz and Sherry Newell, visited Elinor. Along with historical sight-seeing, the group also visited dairy farms. They said two differences between Scotland farms and dairies in the Midwest were the facilities and feed rations. (photo submitted)
"Scotland is the home of the Ayrshire cow so I thought it would be a good choice," Opitz said via an internet phone service.
Since February, Opitz, from ColdSpring, Minn., and an avid promoter of the Ayshire breed, has been taking classes at the University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland. While studying philosophy at the college located in southern central Scotland, she has visited half a dozen dairy farms, including Cuthill Towers dairy near Kilmarnock, Scotland, which is owned and managed by the family of Arthur Lawrie, vice president of the United Kingdom Ayrshire Society.
During the first two weeks in April, Opitz had visitors: her parents, Joseph Opitz and Sherry Newell, and her grandparents, Shirley and Gene Newell, who manage a dairy with 60 Ayrhires and Holsteins in Long Grove, Iowa, with their son, Dan. The group was also able to take in some dairy farms in Scotland and Ireland.
Although Elinor does not live on a dairy farm, the University of Minnesota sophomore is highly involved in the dairy industry. She owns a few Ayrhires, has helped on the Newells' farm, has leased 4-H animals from an aunt who dairy farms in Thief River Falls, Minn., is a member of the U.S. Ayrshire Breeders' Association and is majoring in animal science with a dairy production emphasis.
"It's been Ayrshires all around for me," Elinor said. "That's all I've ever owned."
When she decided to study abroad, Elinor wasn't going to leave out dairy.
"Over here they don't do agriculture at four-year universities so I'm only taking philosophy classes," she said. "But I manage to get out and see a few cows anyway."
Elinor said most of the dairy farms in Scotland are located in the rolling hills of the southwest part of the country because the northern two-thirds of the country is highlands with a low population and the southern part of the country is used for raising and grazing sheep.
During the farm tours, The Opitzes and Newells noticed some differences between dairy farms in Scotland and farms in the Midwest. They said Scotland has very few farms outside the 70- to 200-cow size range and all the farms they visited had freestall barns.
"I thought everything was smaller over there," Gene said.
Most of the buildings for the farms were stone, the group said.
"It looked like it was hard to raise young calves in stone buildings that were cold, wet and damp," Gene said. "And most parlors were wide open because they don't have much severe cold whether so it wasn't necessary to have them enclosed as we do here."
The Opitzes and Newells found that the weather in Scotland is often unpredictable.
"The sun was shining for only three days of our trip," Shirley said.
Rain is common in the country, but it rarely snows and the temperature usually stays mild, Elinor said.
"The key to weather in Scotland is just because it's sunny now doesn't mean it will be in two hours and just because it's pouring out doesn't mean it won't be sunny in the next 45 minutes," Elinor said.
Ingredients in the total mixed rations were also different than in the Midwest and are affected by the weather conditions.
"They can't grow corn, which makes a big difference in what they're feeding they're cows," Elinor said.
Gene said most of the dairy producers used grass silage in their mix.
"It was too wet and damp to make hay," he said.
Turnips and second grade potatoes are also used in the TMR, and several of the herds were grazed.
Dairy farmers in Scotland are not allowed to use rBST.
"But they don't see it as a big deal because it's never been an option for them," Elinor said.
Although there were several differences between Scotland dairy farms and ones in the Midwest, there were some similarities.
"The operations look like any 100-cow freestall operation you'd see in the States," Opitz said.
Dairy producers were also breeding their cows to some of the same bulls Opitz knew and used for her cows.
"It was nice to be able to have a conversation on that level with breeders here," she said.
The Newells and Opitzes had also stopped into a sales barn in between farm stops.
"They were just like our sales barns at home," Shirley said. "It was crowded with buyers and spectators. There were sheep and dairy cull cows and beef of all colors."
Gene also said after converting the price to U.S. dollars, 1,200-pound animals were selling for about the same amount as they would in the Midwest.
The Opitzes and Newells were also able to attend a gathering with the young members of the U.K. Ayrshire Society. In addition to farm tours, the group held a showmanship and fitting contest, and a dairy judging contest. Nearly 30 young people gathered from the most Ayrshire-populated areas.
"They were very accommodating and loved to show us around and talk about cows," Elinor said. "It was nice to meet some influential people in the breed."
The Opitzes and Newells found this welcoming characteristic at all the farms where they stopped.
"The people there are just like us," Shirley said.
The thought is comforting to Elinor. When she returns home in June she won't experience culture shock. But a study abroad experience is one Optiz thinks many people should consider.
"Four months sounds like a long time away from home and I've got to say I miss my cows, but it goes by really fast," she said. "You'll really enjoy it and you'll meet a lot of new people."[[In-content Ad]]
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