Producers Honored for
Their Commitment
to Milk Quality
Major Sponsors

Contributing Sponsors






 

Winners of the 2005 National Dairy Quality Awards (NDQA) program were announced during the NMC 45th Annual Meeting, January 22-25, 2006 in Tampa, Florida.

Now in its 12th year, the goal of the NDQA program is to honor dairy producers who successfully have placed top priority on producing milk of the highest quality. The NMC, along with Hoard's Dairyman, DTN Dairy, Fort Dodge Animal Health, WestfaliaSurge, Inc., Ecolab Inc, IBA Inc., Holstein Association, Cover-All, and QMI, sponsored the awards.

Dairy farms are nominated for the award by professionals in the dairy industry who work with producers, such as dairy plant field representatives, veterinarians, DHI supervisors, or extension personnel. Over 150 dairy farms were nominated in 2005.

Finalists from this year's program were judged by milk quality experts who looked at quality indicators such as somatic cell count, bacteria count and incidence of mastitis. The judges looked beyond just numbers however -- applications were also evaluated for milking routine, systems of monitoring udder health, protocols for detecting and treating clinical and subclinical cases, record keeping, and strategies for overall herd health and welfare.

Silver, Gold and Platinum winners were designated from the group of finalists.

Top-rated Platinum winners, honored during the NMC Annual Meeting, are pictured below [click here for photos and brief bios].

For a complete list of all Silver, Gold, and Platinum winners and nominators, click here.

Read the "round table discussion" article from the January 10, 2006 issue of Hoard's Dairyman, featuring the six NDQA Platinum winners and their day-to-day strategies to produce high quality milk [file size 900 KB] click here.
 

A global organization for mastitis control
and milk quality
2005 NDQA Platinum Winners
click on images for larger view

 Michelle and Dick Brokish put together high quality and high production at Fun-Run Dairy, Hollandale, Wis. They are shown with their daughters from left, Natalie, Corina, Halle, and Rachel. The farm's rolling herd average is approaching 25,000 milk on 85 head. "No one in Iowa County (Wis.) has been this consistent . . . other farmers can't imagine how he does it," was what nominator Ron Lewis, Dodgeville, Wis., with AgSource had to say about Brokish. Close-up dry cows and heifers are kept on sand-free stalls. The herd is on Pasture Mats topped with chopped straw. All fresh cows are CMT'd. Brokish has monthly dealer checks on his vacuum pump and regulator and checks his digital vacuum gauge daily. He uses gloves during milking and takes culture samples so he can target treatments.
Karen and Jim Davenport (at center shown with daughters Laura, left, and Kristen) at Tollgate Farm near Ancramdale, N.Y., have a long record of high quality. They have received the top quality award for their Agri- Mark co-op region nine times and the coop's top honors twice. Ten different people milk the 76-cow Tollgate herd, including four employees, which is testament to strict adherence to a written milking procedure. Their nominator, Jim Kinch, Plainville, Conn., with Agri-Mark, credits the Davenports with "amazing" attention to detail. The farm's tie stalls are bedded with low-dust, kiln-dried sawdust and hydrated lime and are cleaned six times a day. Inflations are changed every 1,200 milkings. As much treatment of mastitis as possible is done with oxytocin therapy. Antibiotics are used only on severe cases based on culture results.
Larry and Linda Disch, New Glarus, Wis., shown with their grandson Trenten, had an average somatic cell count of just 53,000 and had just one clinical case in his 39-cow herd (less than 3 percent of his cows). According to nominator Randy Hardyman with Grande Milk Marketing, Disch has had only one month during the past 15 years when average cell count was over 100,000. The tie stalls at Shan-Tell Farm have sand bedding. The sand is raked daily, and new sand is added every two weeks. Heifers receive dry cow treatment to cut down on heifer mastitis. He has a digital read-out for his bulk tank to closely monitor cooling temperatures. All fresh cows are tested for drugs with a Delvo test.
Mary Ann and Richard Feldbruegge, Abbotsford, Wis., "Always have had low cell counts," according to their veterinarian and nominator Ron Shiffler. The Feldbruegges have 40 Holsteins in a tie stall barn. Their stalls have rubber mats bedded with freshly chopped hay. They keep shovels handy around the barn for convenient stall cleaning. All quarters of all cows are dry treated, and then those cows are marked clearly with a paint stick. The Feldbruegges run an antibiotic test on all fresh cows before their milk is put in the tank. Mastitis treatment histories are part of DHI records and also are recorded in a notebook. Herd culling rate averages a low 22.5 percent.
The Rothenberger Family, near Landsdale, Pa., had a remarkable average somatic cell count of 39,500. Scott Rothenberger, shown with daughter Jewel, accomplished that with an impressive herd average of more than 28,000 pounds of milk. Nine different people milk at Merrymead Farm, including seven nonfamily employees. Their nominator, Dale C. Streams, D.V.M., cited the farm's "Unquestionable attention to detail and strict instruction to all employees, including sanitation, consistent milking technique, and complete reporting of all abnormal observations from day of birth to day of culling." The Rothenbergers pay close attention to milking unit removal to promote teat end health and flame udders for improved cleanliness.
Cathy and Gordon Speirs, Brillion, Wis., have high production (25,000 milk) and high quality, while milking more than 850 Holsteins. "Respect for employees and concern for the welfare of the livestock are hallmarks of this operation," reported Jonathon August, Grande Milk Marketing, who nominated the Speirs. At their Shiloh Dairy, the Speirs culture all fresh cows and Delvo test every cow that leaves the hospital pen. They use sand in their free stalls which are hand raked three times a day and power raked three times a week. Every Wednesday, Lisowe Dairy Service checks out the milking equipment in their double-16 parallel. For summer, the barns have open sidewalls and fans and sprinklers for cooling.

Overall Results from the 2005 National Dairy Quality Awards Program

2005 NDQA Platinum Winners

Dick and Michelle Brokish, Fun - Run Dairy, Hollandale, WI
Nominated by: Ron Lewis, AgSource, Dodgeville, WI
Jim & Karen Davenport, Tollgate Holsteins, Ancramdale, NY
Nominated by: Jim Kinch, Agri-Mark , Plainville, CT
Larry and Linda Disch, Shan - Tell Holsteins, New Glarus, WI
Nominated by: Randy Hardyman, Grande Milk Marketing, Lomira, WI
Richard & Mary Ann Feldbruegge, Abbotsford, WI
Nominated by: Ron Shiffler, Medford Veterinary Clinic, Medford, WI
Rothenberger Family, Merrymead Farm, Lansdale, PA
Nominated by: Dale Streams, Quakertown Veterinary Clinic, Quakertown, PA
Gordon & Cathy Speirs, Shiloh Dairy LLC, Brillion, WI
Nominated by: Jonathon August, Grande Milk Marketing, Lomira, WI

2005 NDQA Gold Winners

Brands Family, Deer Valley Farm # 2, Ferrisburg, VT
Nominated by: Diane Bothfeld, St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, St. Albans, VT
Larry & Genny Davis, Davis Farm, Sharon, WI
Nominated by: Richard Bourie, Bourie Dairy Consulting, New Glarus, WI
Robert & Patricia Horst, Grand Central Jerseys, Bristow, IA
Nominated by: Roger Lenius, Swiss Valley Farms, Waverly, IA
Mark & Angela Klehr, Belle Plaine, MN
Nominated by: Erv Pitzner, Associated Milk Producers, Inc., Rochester, MN
Doug & Lou Ann Mellenthin, Spencer , WI
Nominated by: Scott Johnson, Nasonville Dairy, Stratford, WI
Steve, Patty, Andrew,Taylor, & Nick Meyer, North Hardwick Dairy, Hardwick, VT
Nominated by: Diane Bothfeld, St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, St. Albans, VT
John & Shirley Nagel, Jason & Carlene Nagel, Dave and Jolynne Schroepfer, Nagel Dairy Farms, LLC, Deerbrook, WI
Nominated by: Scott Poock, Birnamwood Veterinary Clinic, Birnamwood, WI
Charles & Julie Nelkie, Lemajru Dairy Farm, West Branch, MI
Nominated by: Gerry Volz, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Fairview, MI
Daniel & Mary Tekippe, Sun Valley Farms, Manchester, IA
Nominated by: Mike Roete, Wapsie Valley Creamery, Independence, IA
Dale & Terry Veddler, Veddler Dairy Farm - North, Marion, MI
Nominated by: Dave Clark, Dairy Marketing Services, Sears, MI

2005 NDQA Silver Winners

Joyce & Scott Christian, Christian Farms LLP, Merrill, WI
Nominated by: Randy Schroepfer, Servco FS Cooperative, Antigo, WI
Robert & Denise Colson, Colvalley Holsteins, Rib Lake, WI
Nominated by: Ron Shiffler, Medford Veterinary Clinic, Medford, WI
David & Gerard Ellerbrock, Ellerbrock Dairy Farm, Leipsic, OH
Nominated by: Jeff Rohlf, Dairy Farmers of America, Defiance, OH
Terry, Kevin, Brian, & Carolyn Getty and Diane Smith, Gettyvue Farm LLC, Granville, NY
Nominated by: William Nichols, Stewart's Processing, Saratoga Springs, NY
Stan & Lori Hemmersbach, Westby, WI
Nominated by: Karl Solverson, Solverson Veterinary Services, Viroqua, WI
James & Janet Hunter, Janaron Farms, Meadville, PA
Nominated by: Jeff Bradshaw, Dairy Farmers of America, Saegertown, PA
Paul Lederer, Pasha Dairy, Wendell, ID
Nominated by: Roland Wood, Dairy Farmers of America, Barley, ID
Dave & Sally Long, Long's Dairy Farm, Elsie, MI
Nominated by: Rosemarie Steig, Dairy Farmers of America, Hersey, MI
Ken & Ruby Meekhof, Meekhof Dairy, McBain, MI
Nominated by: Ron Bazuin, Dairy Farmers of America, McBain, MI
Henry & Shane Prien, Prien's Holsteins, Brodhead, WI
Nominated by: Phil Frost, Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center, LLC, Brodhead, WI
Dick & Carol Schauf; Greg & Laurie Schauf, Schauf Family Farm, Sparta, WI
Nominated by: Ronald Brown, Foremost Farms USA, Sparta, WI
George & Debra Stebbins, Enosburg Falls, VT
Nominated by: Diane Bothfeld, St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, St. Albans, VT
Roy, Dave & Rick Tacoma, Tacoma Dairy Inc., Falmouth, MI
Nominated by: Dave Clark, Dairy Marketing Services, Sears, MI
Tom & Karen Tilkens, Tilkens Dairy, New Franken, WI
Nominated by: Kurt Lyon, IBA, Inc., De Pere, WI
Wayne & Katherine Voth, Lewiston, MN
Nominated by: Dale Heintz, Land O'Lakes, Inc., Eyota, MN
Clint & Heidi Zank, Ridge Place Holsteins, Neillsville, WI
Nominated by: Renee Bowman, Bowman Dairy Supply, Alma Center, IA
Wayne Zenzen, Zenzen Dairy, Melrose, MN
Nominated by: Arvid Fristad, Land O'Lakes, Inc., Melrose, MN

Applications for the 2006 NDQA program will be accepted this summer. Winners will be announced at the NMC 46th Annual Meeting to be held January 21-24, 2007 in San Antonio, Texas. Watch the NMC website for more information.
home