Women in Dairy: Elizabeth Elsinger

Elizabeth Elsinger
Peosta, Iowa
Dubuque County
500 cows

Tell us about your family and farm. Our farm is a 500-cow dairy. We milk Jerseys, Holsteins and cross-bred cows. In 2010, my husband and I started milking in Wisconsin with 90 cows on a rented farm. In 2014, my parents invited us to come home and expand their operation. My husband and I now farm in partnership with my parents. We run about 300 acres and grow most of the hay and all the corn silage we use on the dairy. Two years ago, we implemented the smaXtec cow monitoring system. It is a bolus that detects heats, ruminations, water intakes and temperatures and gives us a 16-hour calving alert. It has revolutionized my ability to manage our herd. We also implemented the system at our heifer grower in De Forest, Wisconsin, and it allows me to keep an eye on the heifers remotely.

What is a typical day like for you on the dairy? My day starts at 4:30 a.m. when I get my kids up to help feed the calves. Then I spend the next 4.5 hours mixing feed and feeding the milk cows, dry cows and older heifers. Next, I get the calf report from my parents and treat any problems. Then I breed cows and treat any sick cows the smaXtec system picked up. The rest of the morning and early afternoon is spent on projects and jobs that need to be done, like fieldwork, repairs, book work, livestock work etc. Then I start evening calf chores and finish up any other projects and check on the animals. I am usually done by 5 p.m.

What decision have you made in the last year that has benefited your farm? Over a year ago (more like two), we implemented the use of crossbreed semen (XD). We are about three months from the first of those heifers calving and entering the milking string. We are excited to see how those animals perform.

Tell us about your most memorable experience working on the farm. Memories with my kids are the best. They usually have the best commentary and unique perspectives about mundane chores.

What have you enjoyed most about dairy farming or your tie to the dairy industry? I enjoy sharing my experiences with my kids and giving them a perspective on life that most kids don’t get the opportunity to have.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your dairy career? My biggest accomplishment is that my husband and I started with a 90-cow herd and now we milk over 500 with several employees and all the challenges and learning curves that come along with it.

What are things you do to promote your farm or the dairy industry? My husband and I are on our county dairy board. I serve as the royalty coordinator. We also host farm tours for schools and groups.

What advice would you give another woman in the dairy industry? Never stop learning and asking questions. I have a rule that whenever a consultant or salesman comes to visit, I ask questions as though I may purchase their product (even if I do not intend to) because that information may be helpful in the future.

What is a challenge in the dairy industry you have faced and how did you overcome it? The large swings in commodity and milk prices were a problem and still can be a challenge. Since we started contracting all our concentrates and milk when we can, we mitigate some of that risk. We may not hit the top on milk or the bottom on concentrates, but we get close.

When you get a spare moment, what do you do? In my spare time, I run The Brown Cow bakery. It is a home bakery that specializes in decorated sugar cookies. I also make cakes, cupcakes and pies. It is my creative outlet and lets me be a little artistic.