Top Story (Aug. 24, 2010)

California dairy emigrant successful in Pennsylvania

By DOROTHY NOBLE
AFP Correspondent

FRIEDENS, Pa. — When Andy and Ronica Zylstra decided to move their dairy operations from California two years ago, they considered Iowa, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington before settling on a former 198-acre ranch near Friedens in Somerset County, Pa.
“The infrastructure and price were best here,” Andy says.
The Zylstras did not make a snap decision. Andy looked closely at a couple of nearby dairies, and Andy's brother accompanied him “to make sure I had no rose-colored glasses,” he recalls.
Zylstra Dairy Inc. sold its California livestock, and started its Pennsylvania operations with 400 springers from Minnesota. Today they milk 360 to 380 Holsteins three times a day in their double-ten parlor.  About a hundred heifers and dry cows round out their herd.
The Zylstras have four full-time employees. Two migrated with them from California.  The other two, relatives of the first two, also came from the West Coast very soon afterward. All live on the premises in middle-class housing.
A special needs barn, built by the Zylstras, facilitates some of the feeding and provides warmth during the winter. “It's colder here,” Andy Zylstra observes. His previous dairy farm was two hours south of Sacramento.
The other barn is a freestyle type. Cow comfort in both is enhanced with the bedded pack provided by nearby Doran Farm's manure digester.
Although not growing crops, Andy makes a special point to acquire high quality forage. His trained eye and keen judgment also enable him to make smart purchasing decisions.
In late July, the Zylstras opened their operation for a tour sponsored by the Center for Dairy Excellence. Not only were the individual buildings accessible, but the Zylstras' AI service company, nutritionist, hoof trimmers, and veterinarian were on hand also to answer questions.
Veterinarian David C. Welch of White Oak Consulting in Berlin, Pa. made several observations of Zylstras' success. “He focuses on the cows,” Dr. Welch said, “He doesn't worry about fixing a wagon, or planting.” In contrast while in California, Zylstra Dairy grew three corps a year.
Welch reported that Andy Zylstra gathers information intensively. His cows' pregnancy rate is between 20 to 24 percent, he monitors the components such as butterfat, and he uses acid to render the concrete areas rough to aid the cows when standing. Welch said Andy Zylstra gets concerned if the somatic cell count tops 100,000.
Equipment and vehicles, which often drain dairymen's return on investment, are notably absent, and feed purchased at reasonable rates contribute to profitability, Welch noted.
Finally, Welch added that Andy is good at human resources management. Consequently, the employees are loyal to him. All these traits permit him to focus on productivity and cost control.
Zimpro Performance Minerals provided a locomotion scoring chart which showed the progression of lameness in dairy cows. With pronounced back arching, significant loss of milk production occurs.
Then, Tom Walker demonstrated Zimpro's hoof trimming service, which can be performed in 10 minutes, and can return the claws to functional weight bearing and correct conformation.
Several other vendors provided information. The Center for Dairy Excellence gave updates on production and the current outlook at dairy futures during the session.

(Photo by Bob Ferguson)