Four-Family Organic Dairy Operation

2020 - Volume #44, Issue #6, Page #31

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Four first cousins - Travis, Adam, Michael and Josh Tranel - along with their families and other cousins, blended four separate operations into a single large organic LLC dairy 7 years ago.
One key operating philosophy of Tranel Family Farms, a 2,000-acre, 600-cow dairy near the southwest Wisconsin town of Cuba City, is to provide a family-sustaining job for any family member who wants to farm. Josh Tranel, herdsman for the operation, says the multi-family structure has delivered a number of advantages and benefits compared with sole-ownership.
“Simple economies of scale mean that we only need one milking parlor, one calf-and heifer-raising system and one set of machinery,” Josh says. “We’ve also learned that it’s more productive to have a central place to work where family members are able to specialize in jobs they enjoy and are good at. And fortunately, we all get along with each other and enjoy working together.”
Another advantage with the large family workforce is that it’s easier to schedule an afternoon off or a family vacation. “We’ve also found that cousins working together has proven easier than siblings working together, maybe because, with cousins, there is less of a pecking order of who is in charge than with brothers,” Josh says.
As a USDA-certified organic dairy, Tranel Family Farms relies heavily on pasture. The operation has more than 200 acres of intensely-grazed pasture divided into 32 individual paddocks that allow cows to be moved onto fresh grass as often as every six hours.
The mixed breed dairy herd includes Holsteins, Red and White Holsteins, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn. “Our breeding plan is to gradually introduce more Jersey and Jersey-cross genetics so we’re working with smaller cows and maximizing the fat content in our milk,” Josh says. He reports that milk production is approaching 70 lbs./cow. All milk is sold to Organic Valley Coop in La Farge, Wisconsin.
As an organic dairy, a lot of emphasis at Tranel Family Farms is placed on preventive health and cow comfort. The farm’s sand-bedded free-stall barn is equipped with misters and curtains and cows walk on a recycled asphalt lane to pasture to promote foot health in the herd.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tranel Family Farms, 2231 Louisburg Road, Cuba City, Wis. 53807.

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Four-Family Organic Dairy Operation DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Four first cousins - Travis Adam Michael and Josh Tranel - along with their families and other cousins blended four separate operations into a single large organic LLC dairy 7 years ago One key operating philosophy of Tranel Family Farms a 2 000-acre 600-cow dairy near the southwest Wisconsin town of Cuba City is to provide a family-sustaining job for any family member who wants to farm Josh Tranel herdsman for the operation says the multi-family structure has delivered a number of advantages and benefits compared with sole-ownership “Simple economies of scale mean that we only need one milking parlor one calf-and heifer-raising system and one set of machinery ” Josh says “We’ve also learned that it’s more productive to have a central place to work where family members are able to specialize in jobs they enjoy and are good at And fortunately we all get along with each other and enjoy working together ” Another advantage with the large family workforce is that it’s easier to schedule an afternoon off or a family vacation “We’ve also found that cousins working together has proven easier than siblings working together maybe because with cousins there is less of a pecking order of who is in charge than with brothers ” Josh says As a USDA-certified organic dairy Tranel Family Farms relies heavily on pasture The operation has more than 200 acres of intensely-grazed pasture divided into 32 individual paddocks that allow cows to be moved onto fresh grass as often as every six hours The mixed breed dairy herd includes Holsteins Red and White Holsteins Brown Swiss Jersey and Milking Shorthorn “Our breeding plan is to gradually introduce more Jersey and Jersey-cross genetics so we’re working with smaller cows and maximizing the fat content in our milk ” Josh says He reports that milk production is approaching 70 lbs /cow All milk is sold to Organic Valley Coop in La Farge Wisconsin As an organic dairy a lot of emphasis at Tranel Family Farms is placed on preventive health and cow comfort The farm’s sand-bedded free-stall barn is equipped with misters and curtains and cows walk on a recycled asphalt lane to pasture to promote foot health in the herd Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tranel Family Farms 2231 Louisburg Road Cuba City Wis 53807

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