That’s what fourth-generation, Iowa dairy farmer and TikTok sensation Dan Venteicher said in a recent conversation with Kristen Peck, chief executive officer at Zoetis. The pair talked about the importance of taking care of the cows so they produce more milk and remain healthy. Venteicher also shared the reality of using technology and data to help care for and in this case, feed and milk the cows. His was the first dairy in Iowa to install an autonomous feeding system that delivers fresh feed to the cows every three hours.
Source: LinkedIn, December 16, 2021. Link. The standard for the industry for decades has been to deliver feed once a day or twice a day. So, this really flipped that concept on its head. And, by doing that, we’ve seen an increase in milk production, butter fat, protein and animal health. . . . but the milking robots let cows be cows. . . . They get milked when they want. They lay down when they want.
INSIGHTS: Whether you’re a dairy pro, a dairy novice or have never set foot on a dairy farm, Venteicher’s approach to animal care is worth these four minutes of your time. He demonstrates what modern animal production systems can achieve and how his cows are as comfortable as can be. Find him on TikTok as iowadairydarmer.