Blog 80

Louis and Jenny Averbeck milk 160 cows near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Averbecks began making A2 cheese in 2020 after Jenny discovered she had a sensitivity to dairy products. PHOTO BY STACEY SMART

As dairy farmers, we are always thinking of ways to improve cow comfort. And this year, we are kicking off our project list in a big way to improve cow comfort: a new roof.

Now, you may be scratching your head and wondering just what in the world does a new roof have to do with cow comfort? The freestall barn where the cows are housed has a steel roof and no insulation. It has sand beds, which we put in last year, and lots of fans. But in the summer, the sun beats down on that steel roof and adds heat to the barn. And opposite in the winter, the heat escapes.

So, our first 2026 project is reroofing and insulating the 200-foot freestall barn. Our hope is that the barn will stay a little cooler in the summer and a little warmer in the winter, which should make the cows more comfortable and, hopefully, in return, they produce a little more milk. Even without added milk, it should make the barn more comfortable for overall health of the cows. After all, that is our No. 1 goal — happy, healthy cows! Stay tuned for more 2026 projects.