Top Performers: Doug Larson of Larson Farms

How many times a day do you milk, and what is your current herd average, butterfat and protein? We milk twice a day, and the cows are averaging 55 pounds daily with a 4.23 fat and 3.3 protein.

Describe your housing and milking facility. The cows are housed in a freestall barn with a feed alley in the middle. We use ground straw for bedding, and cows have access to pasture in the summer. Cows are milked in a double-12 parallel parlor.

Who is part of your farm team, and what are their roles? My parents, Michael and Sherrie Larson; myself; and my brother, Mark. We all help with milking, and my mom does the calf feeding while my dad, Mark, and I do the rest of the feeding and cow chores along with fieldwork.

What is your herd health program? Cows are vaccinated twice a year and we have a foot trimmer come as needed.

What does your dry cow and transition program consist of? Cows are dried off at 60 days prior to calving. During the summer, they are on a pasture lot, and during the winter, they are dry lotted and calve in the barn. Usually, after calving, the cow will enter the herd within the first 12 hours.

What is your average days in milk? 120 days

What percentage of your herd is in their first lactation? 35%

What is the composition of your ration, and how has that changed in recent years? The ration consists of corn silage, haylage, ground corn and a soybean meal/mineral premix. It is adjusted according to the feed sample results to keep it balanced.

Tell us about the forages you plant and detail your harvest strategies. We plant Dairyland Hybrids for both alfalfa and corn silage. Corn silage is chopped around 45 days after full tassel. First cutting alfalfa is baled, while the second and third cuttings are chopped and bagged.

What is your average somatic cell count and how does that affect your production? It averages around 200,000 SCC.

What change has created the biggest improvement in your herd average? Switching to a new nutritionist has really helped improve the average production of pounds and components.

What technology do you use to monitor your herd? Currently, none; we’re looking to add CowManager to help with heat detection.

What is your breeding program, and what role does genetics play in your production level? I artificially inseminate both cows and heifers using bulls from Select Sires. Currently, we use heat detection patches after they are 50 days in milk and breed on natural heats. First service is sexed semen, and beef semen is used after if they don’t settle. I only use proven bulls in the lineup. Also, I bring in a Hereford bull to help get some bred.

List three management strategies that have helped you attain your production and component level. Good nutritionist, producing good quality feed and cow comfort.

Tell us about your farm and your plans for the dairy in the next year. We grow corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on 2,200 acres. A third of the farm ground is rented. In addition to the dairy cows, we run 100 cow/calf pairs of Herefords and crossbreds. All the calves are raised on the farm either for herd replacements or finishing in the feedlot. Our goal is to continue to improve the genetics in the herd faster by raising more heifers to replace older cows and have a faster turnover rate.