Farm Info

North Florida Holsteins was founded in 1980, milking 120 cows on 480 acres in a double 10 herringbone parlor. By 1984, the herd size had reached 1000 cows, and a double 12 herringbone parlor was constructed. Herd size continued to increase, and in 1990, a state-of-the-art double 40 parallel parlor was built which today accommodates 3700 head of milking age females. Over 90% of the herd is registered. The milking herd is divided into 15 different lots, grouped primarily by age and stage of lactation. The most recently built freestall barns are constructed with tunnel ventilation for climate control and heat stress reduction, and grooved rubber flooring for animal safety and comfort. The entire herd is housed in barns; most in tunnel ventilation barns. Additional cooling is provided by sprinkler systems over feedbunks and shade structures in lots. All outside lanes are covered in cow carpet for cleanliness and stress relief in wet weather

Before each of their three milkings, cows are showered from the floor in the first part of the holding area. In the parlor both pre-dip and post-dip are applied. All cows wear leg transponders of the Afikim system which not only identify cows, but also record daily milk weights, milk conductivity, cow activity, and more for review at the computer terminals, and for use in management decisions. Visual observation, KMARS, and ovsync are used in combination with the Afi-Kim system activity reports in a multi-facet heat detection package.

Terminals at cowside also allow for immediate access to and input of breeding and health information. Visicow and PC Dart software programs are used for individual cow information in the parlor office.

North Florida Holsteins practices an intensive embryo transfer program with a professional veterinarian performing the flush while in-house herd health technicians implant the embryos. This procedure is used both for genetic improvement, and to maximize conception rates during the extreme summer heat. Approximately 20% of the herd is bred to young sires, including homebred sires from well-respected cow families. DMS corrective matings and carefully selected sires result in constant improvements in the genetic make-up of the herd.

Cows calve in "springer lots" either on sod or in sand bedded loafing barns, and after receiving a clean bill of health from the hospital barn, join rest of the herd. After being fed colostrum, calves are raised on pasteurized milk and calf ration in individual stalls. From there they move to groups of 5 then to lots of increasing numbers with fenceline feeders.

North Florida Holsteins puts up approximately 42,000 tons of corn silage, 3500 tons of ryegrass silage, 4000 tons of sorghum silage, 8000 tons of Bermuda grass, and 6,000 tons of other silages annually. Part of this is raised on the farm, with the balance being raised by local farmers and delivered directly into the bunk silos and silo bags. North Florida's cropland is irrigated with use of pivot irrigation. The remainder of the feedstuffs for the Total Mixed Ration - hominy, whole cottonseed, citrus pulp, beet pulp, wet brewer's grain, distillers’ grain, alfalfa hay, soybean meal, soy hulls, and a premix - are purchased.

North Florida Holsteins’ proximity to the University of Florida and its College of Veterinary Medicine presents a unique opportunity. The cultivated relationship between the two provides university staff a sizable number of cows available for research projects, and gives North Florida Holsteins the opportunity to evaluate the results as the trials are completed.

Any computer, milking machine, or piece of large equipment is only as productive as the person operating it, and here North Florida Holsteins is extremely fortunate. Heading the over 70 employees are department managers who meet regularly to discuss the entire operation, and the specific concerns and needs of each department. These departments are: parlor, herd health, calf, hospital barn, heifers and feed, farm maintenance-shop-crops, and administration. Among these employees at any given time one will find 8-10 international students, most of whom have veterinary or four year agriculture degrees, participating in a highly successful program where both the students and the farm benefit.

North Florida Holsteins is ever-changing. Through keeping abreast of new agricultural technology, through involvement with various business and community organizations, and through cooperation with universities and companies in research of new products, the management team strives for continued progress and success.