Keeping their dream a reality

WAUZEKA, Wis. — When the Mullikin family renewed their dream of dairy farming four years ago, they were patient with bringing their vision to new life. They had rented out their farm for 20 years before returning to the industry with 40 Jersey cows and 44 acres of grazing paddocks. Now they have implemented the next step in their vision, which is an upgrade from milking in the stanchion barn to a retrofitted parlor.

Andrew Mullikin said it has allowed them to keep the dream alive.

“In order for me to keep doing what I’m doing and keep us in business, this is what had to happen,” Andrew said. “It’s been great.”

Andrew farms with his girlfriend, Crystal Anderson, sister, Heather Keane, and parents, Mike and Julie Mullikin, near Wauzeka. Andrew and Crystal (who also works full time from home) manage the daily operations, while Heather manages the business aspect with her family and is on site whenever possible. Mike helps with cropping and is around to help when needed.

The swing-9 parlor was retrofitted into the original stanchion barn. Cows were already utilizing a freestall addition to the barn, which they still use when not on pasture. Construction on the project began last summer and took 15 weeks to complete. Transitioning the cows went better than expected, Andrew said.

“It didn’t take us long at all,” Andrew said. “The girls (cows) trust me. Between Crystal and me, they’re used to us, and they follow us. It was easier to get them to train to the parlor than it was to get them to use the stanchion barn.”

The family opted for a swing parlor for various reasons but mostly because it allowed them to stay within their budget. The parlor itself was gently used and the machines were a significant cost of the project, so avoiding a double parlor helped save money as well.

The pit is five feet wide, which Andrew admits is slightly tighter than he wanted. However, it allowed them to retain 75% capacity of the upstairs of the barn by not moving a king beam and also minimized the construction process.

“Absolutely everything we did was on purpose and with a purpose,” Andrew said. “I wanted to maintain as much structural integrity of the barn, which we did.”

The holding area is within the original stanchion barn. Nine stanchions were left in to use for herd work and are gated off while not in use. All the cows fit in the holding area, but Andrew prefers they remain outside until he brings them in. This keeps the area cleaner, he said.

“I’d rather take a few extra minutes to milk than take twice the time to clean the holding area,” Andrew said. “The other night it took me an hour and seven minutes to milk 37 cows.”

While the time savings are a huge benefit of the new system, the labor efficiency was the real goal and one they definitely achieved. When the family resumed milking in the stanchion in 2020, it did not take long for Andrew and Mike to feel the effects on their knees. The pair resorted to wearing knee pads, but the physical demands of incessantly bending and kneeling still took their toll.

Heather said she notices a difference in energy in her brother and father already.

“Farming is already hard on your body,” Heather said. “Any little thing that is going to take away just a fraction of the stress opens up opportunities to enjoy it.”

Andrew agreed.

“I had aged my knees 15 years by kneeling on the concrete,” he said. “The physical difference is absolutely remarkable.”

Milk production and quality have remained steady throughout the transition. Because the milking procedure is so consistent, the cows have barely noticed the change.

The height of the parlor is something Andrew feels they got right. The used parlor came without manure pans, but since Andrew is conscientious during milking, it has not posed a big problem.

The family is exploring options for where to take the vision next. While they are primarily a grass-fed herd, the cows do get supplemental grain. The goal is to become 100% grass fed, and Heather is researching organic options as well.