Join us on a bus tour to visit two large-scale dairies in Northeast Wisconsin. Come and learn why these farms raise their heifers on grass and hear about the economic and health benefits they are experiencing.

Tauchen Harmony Valley Dairy currently milks around 750 cows. Al Tauchen has used prescribed grazing for six years and is in the process of expanding his current grazing acreage. Al has seen great results with his bred heifers on pasture and is excited about expanding his grazing operation. Heifers are rotated daily, which maximizes dry matter intake and keeps pastures producing at high levels.

VandeWettering Farms LLP currently milks around 350 cows. They recently started grazing their dairy heifers. This past year, in addition to traditional grass/clover pastures, heifers grazed standing corn and cover crops prior to and after main crop harvest. Heifers were on cover crop pastures until mid-December. Grazing cover crops allowed them to increase dry matter production per acre while developing a healthy dairy animal.

Matt Akins, UW–Madison Dairy Management Specialist, and Heidi Johnson, Dane County UW–Extension Crops and Soils Educator, will be on hand to answer questions.

Pre-registration is required by end of day on August 1. The bus will depart the American Center Park & Ride at 9:30 am. The fee of $10 can be paid through registration or on site. Lunch will be provided.

For more information contact Marie Raboin, Conservation Specialist, (608) 224-3742 or email Raboin.Marie@countyofdane.com.

Registration: https://fyi.uwex.edu/danecountyag/events/heifergrazing

Download the event flyer (PDF)