MALECHA DAIRY

Milk Cows

Our milk cows head to the parlor 3 times a day, each cow wears a RFID button in their ear. When entering the parlor, she is identified and the computer records how much milk she gave and how long she took to milk.

Cow Scout is an activity monitor for cows it helps us track rumination, detect sick cows sooner, heat cycles, and much more. Each milk cow wears this activity monitor collar.

Our barns feature fans and sprinklers for cooling and fly control for added cow comfort.

Calves

Quality care starts with our calves. Cows give birth in individual birthing pens. The calves are then given an identification tag. They are fed the cows’ first milk which is called colostrum. They then are moved to individual calf hutches to ensure each animal receives hands-on attention.

Feeding and caring for the calves starts in the early morning. They are fed milk and grain twice a day and always have water available to them.

Heifers

Once the calves are weaned they are then grouped together. At first in smaller groups and eventually in a large group which they will stay with until they have their first calf.

A couple months before breeding age the Cow Scout collar is put on them to track heats and help find the best window for breeding. Once the heifer is confirmed pregnant her collar is removed until she calves.

Dry Cows

As pregnant cows milk production slows, she is moved into pens to rest to prepare for another calf and kept comfortable on bedded packs for pre-calving care.

Once she has calved, she will rejoin the milking herd.