Odd Hour Milking Pays Off

Odd Hour Milking Pays Off LIVESTOCK Dairy (17) 11-6-32 Around the time most dairy operators are eating their noonday meal, Dave Siegmann and his team are into their morning milking. And when most dairy producers are fast asleep, Dave and his crew are deep into their evening milking. The Siegmann operation, near Rubicon, Wis., milks at 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. "It gives us more time with our families and more time to participate in church and community activities," Dave says. "My wife Laurie and I have a two-year-old son Brandon, and I enjoy playing with him in the evening. He goes to bed at 7 p.m., and if we were milking at 5 p.m. I wouldn't have that time with him. Sure, you can bring your children to the barn with you while milking, but that's not the same as devoting some 100% time to them." Now, Dave also is able to be a youth director at his church ù an activity that begins at 6:30. Cows take to the 11 and 11 schedule, too. "They're totally confined so it doesn't make any difference to them when they're milked so long as it's twice a day on a consistent schedule," Dave says. "They have artificial light 24 hours a day and can always see to eat. Our system might be a problem if the cows were on pasture." (Ron Brunoehler, Dairy Today)-.

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