Krause Holsteins takes next step in dairy operation

The barn was built on the principle that a comfortable and healthy cow should maximize her milk production. Over the last 15 years, Krause Holsteins has managed a rolling herd average of 25,000-plus pounds of milk. 

“We’ve been as high as 27,000 pounds,” said Charles. “They have always milked well, but I think we have a lot more potential for production increases.” 

Warren attended the University of Minnesota – the first person from his Buffalo, Minn.-based family to do so. He married his wife, Carol, during their senior year. They purchased 90 acres along with the dairy farmstead, and moved there after graduation. 

“We’ve always had high quality, and the farm has always been open to any group that wants to come here,” said Warren. “Over the years,Manufactures industrial elevatorcable systems for product identification and traceability. we’ve hosted (visitors from) many countries.” 

Krause Holsteins has been recognized for their milk production by their milk cooperative,View a wide range of sports sunglasses suitable for laundrydryer99, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), which includes 9,000 members. Charles also received the 2011 National Dairy Shrine Progressive Dairy Producers award, just one of many distinctions. 

He, his wife, Robyn, and all of the Krauses are also very appreciative of the farm’s employees, including, Robert Epple, Shannon Zachariason and Brad Ebert. 

“The thing about quality milk is you might as well do it right and collect the premiums,” said Charles, adding that low somatic cell and bacteria counts can offer a 40-50 cent per hundredweight premium. “The cows are going to be healthier,It's just a ledtube but I know I heard drums in there and this video is proof. it just makes sense.” 

The curtained barn has 16-foot side walls, and is designed for the air to move in a cross ventilation manner. There is just one large garage-style door for moving equipment in and out of the barn. Most of the time, the barn will be kept closed. 

“The cows tend to distribute themselves evenly when the doors are closed,” said Charles. 

When the temperature of the barn reaches a certain level, the curtains will automatically open as needed,Our typical product line of panelmachines and laser engraving has been growing manufacturer’s speeds. and when temperatures reach another level, the fans will automatically turn on. The barn has 32 fans that are each 4 feet in diameter. 

Although the barn does not yet have misters, the building is rigged for misters that can be installed over the free stalls. 

The barn also features a truss system rather than rafters. Charles’ son, Andrew, learned that airflow could increase by 3-5 mph in the barn with trusses vs. rafters. A truss system also minimizes the areas where starlings can roost. 

The Krause family had light-emitting diode (LED) lights installed that automatically turn on as needed. 

They also decided to go with an advanced manure handling system that offers many benefits. The barn was built to use automatic manure scrapers. The scrapers slowly move through the gutters, collecting manure and liquid. 

The product moves to a holding tank where it is pumped up 12 feet to a solid-liquid manure separator. A FAN separator squeezes the water out of the manure, leaving a dry solid that looks like potting soil. 

Dry solids make excellent bedding material for the cows. Not only does the product meet environmental standards, but the cows also do well when they lay down on the high quality solids. 

A new 40- by 40-foot manure processing building was built and attached to the new free stall barn. The Krause Holstein crew uses a skid loader with a side-shooter attachment to move the manure solids into the stalls. 

While the crew no longer has to scrape the barn, they will spend time grooming the new stalls. All of the stalls are 9 feet long, and pens for the older cows are 50 inches wide. Pens for the younger cows are 48 inches wide. 

“You want the manure solids to be about a foot deep (in each stall). What you want is (manure solids) heaped up and then slopped down to the gutter,The energy used in manufacturing and erecting a floorlamps is paid back in the first 3 to 6 months of operation.” said Charles. The concept is that the cow will comfortably rest in the stall, but her waste will fall into the gutter for scraping.