Schumacher Dairy - working smarter, not harder and on their time
Schumacher Farms of Elgin, Minn., proves that investing in bovine ultrasound as a dairy reproductive
management solution saves time and money by decreasing the stress of scheduling weekly herd checks.
Friday, March 4, Bob Hartz, herdsman and Kurt Schumacher, owner of Schumacher Farm met with BCF
Technology to discuss the benefits incurred from purchasing the farm’s own Easi-Scan ultrasound
equipment.
Forty years ago, Schumacher Farm was
founded when Kenny, Kurt’s father began
milking 11 cows. Since then, it has
expanded to 1,100 milking cows and 1,400
crop acres including sweet corn and peas.
Kurt and his wife Trisha oversee the farm,
and Bob manages daily operations. He has
been the farm’s herdsman for 15 years.
According to Kurt, Bob has been
instrumental improving the farm
management. Bob’s ability to catch on
quickly to ultrasound and use it to improve
the weekly schedule has made tasks less
stressful for cows and employees.
Kurt Schumacher (left) and Bob Hartz (right) have
used ultrasound to improve Schumacher Farm’s
weekly management schedule.
Schumacher Dairy strives for exceptional
cow comfort and calm, clean, high producing
cows. During the last five years, the farm has
progressed in technology and upgraded facilities. The changes have increased reproductive efficiency
and milk production and cut down on veterinary expenses.
In 2013, Schumacher Dairy built a double-20 De-leval basement parallel parlor and invested in its own
Easi-Scan ultrasound kit. Prior to purchasing the ultrasound and installing the parlor, the farm added a
new sand-bedded free-stall barn housing longer stalls built for cow-comfort. “The idea is that cows don’t
stand on the curb and have more lunge space,” says Bob.
The farm averages 185-190 days in milk, 90 pounds of milk per cow per day, with a rolling herd average
(RHA) of 30,432 pounds of milk. The past three years, milk production has increased by 1,200 pounds
each year. Bob’s goal is for the herd to reach 31,500 RHA by this time next year.
BCF Technology as a solution
After perusing available training courses and
ultrasound product sites, Bob discovered BCF
Technology and didn’t look any further, “It was an
easy decision once I saw that BCF was located in
Rochester, MN. Carl came out on a demo and we
bought the Easi-Scan.”
He recalls that it was a frigid cold Minnesota day
when Carl Bollum, General Manager and Rick
Nelson, Service Engineer demonstrated how to use Easi-Scan ultrasound and BUG goggles. “The EasiScan is easy to use, with nice clear graphics. The best part is that whether it is 40 below or 95 degrees it
keeps on going and works no matter the weather,” Bob remarks.
One of the biggest advantages of working with BCF is the exceptional service; he says. “The last time we
sent an item in for service, it was fixed the same day.” When the ultrasound is not in use, it can be found
on the office desk, clean with batteries charging. “Battery life has been good,” he remarks.
Since Schumacher’s Easi-Scan is enrolled on the Lifetime Warranty Program; the BCF service
department annually inspects the equipment function, upgrades software and performs general
maintenance.
Nelson stresses that ultrasound equipment lasts much longer with proper care. “It’s important to keep the
machine clean and dry to prevent corrosion on the battery and goggle connectors. Bob does an excellent
job of this,” he says, which is reflected in minimal repair charges the Schumacher machine has incurred
over the past three years. “Bob takes impeccable care of their equipment. It’s the cleanest machine that
comes in and it looks just like new,” comments Nelson.
Bob says he has been impressed with the BCF product line and is looking forward to trying the new
Phoenix monocular, which would give him the added advantage of seeing cow movement with increased
peripheral vision, while wearing the viewer. Currently, he utilizes the BUGgoggles, of which, he likes the
brighter light source. Since scans are performed in a bright free-stall setting, especially when sides are up
on the building, the OLED technology provides an especially crisp image and is the same technology
used in the Phoenix monocular goggle.
Getting Results – Pregnancy checking done easy
Planning pregnancy checks during feeding time encourages cows to lock up and clean themselves out for
easier palpation, probe use and reproductive tract manipulation.
Farm employees begin milking at 3:00 a.m. and by 6:30 a.m. Bob starts pregnancy checks. Each week,
he scans approximately 100 cows and 35 heifers finishing by the 11:00 a.m. milking. The next milking is
at 7:00 p.m, which allows time to push up feed 10-15 times. Cows are fed about 13,000-16,000 pounds of
a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) once per day per
lactating group.
As the TMR passes by, cows enter headlocks as Bob
pregnancy checks each pen. Juan Martinez, farm
hand reads eligible cow numbers and Samuel, farm
hand moves cows as needed. The dairy’s pregnancy
check protocol is to check virgin heifers at a minimum
of 28 days and cows at 30 days. Both are re-checked
at 52-69 days, the DairyComp305 suggested range.
(DairyComp 305 is a herd management software
program manufactured by Valley Agriculture
Software.)
Bob says pregnancy checking on Friday and administering shots on Monday has increased schedule
flexibility and improved overall cow comfort. “The cows are not locked up as long. It’s just been better on
them,” Bob says, mentioning ultrasound has complemented the farm’s re-synch breeding program.
Schumacher Dairy allows a 50-day waiting period prior to first service. The farm’s cow conception rate
averages 2.5 services per conception (SPC) and 1.5 SPC on heifers, using conventional semen.
Although Bob has learned to identify beyond pregnancy and occasionally notes a pyometrium, he mainly
sticks to identifying pregnant or open and breeding eligibility by locating a Corpus Luteum (CL) and cystic
ovaries. Ultrasound has allowed him to begin pregnancy checks at 28 days for heifers and 30 days for
cows.
Combining ultrasound with the re-synch program has maintained 36% heifer and 20% cow pregnancy
rates. “It’d be hard not to have a breeding program,” Bob says, noting the pregnancy rate has steadily
increased over the past three years.
Within 6 months, the Easi-Scan kit had already paid for itself. Schumacher Dairy has invested a total of
$17,000 in the Easi-Scan ultrasound equipment, including yearly maintenance and repairs, which so far
have been minimal.
In addition to having a more flexible schedule, minimizing vet costs was an added bonus in the decision
to purchase an ultrasound machine. Bob says adding their own ultrasound has helped keep cows on a
routine, especially around holidays which are more likely to need a relief veterinarian.
Schumacher Dairy has been fortunate to have the same vet for years, and has maintained a good
relationship with Dr. Bennett, who they still work with on routine herd checks and consultations. Dr.
Bennett and Bob have worked together for 20+ years and Bennett trained Bob on ultrasound. Bob says
ultrasound was easy for him to learn because he had prior palpation experience, “Like everything else,
the more you work with it, the better you get at it.”
2015 Cow Pregnancy Rate - Avg. 20%
30
25
20
Percentage
15
Pregnant
Pct
10
Linear (Pct)
5
0
Preg Check Date
The Schumacher’s Re-synch program is as follows:
Monday – Give a shot of Gnrh, or Lutalyse; If no Corpus Luteum is present, put in a CIDR
Tuesday – Give a 2nd Lutalyse shot
Thursday – Breed
Friday – Preg Checks & Re-Checks
With ultrasound breed at 28-30 days