In the heart of Dalhart, Texas, a remarkable agricultural shift is underway at Full Circle Jerseys, a farm known for its robust herd of 5,000 milking cows. The farm is strategically transitioning its herd from straight Jerseys to Holstein x Jersey crossbreds. This change is driven by the pursuit of increased energy-corrected milk yield, and according to its management team, an overall enhancement of operational efficiency.
“In a nutshell the ‘HoJo’, as we call them, are simply a more efficient animal,” says Brandon Beavers, the farm’s general manager. “Not necessarily in terms of overall production, but in converting feed into milk solids.”
Full Circle Jerseys epitomizes the gold standard of agricultural integration. Alongside their dairy operations, they manage a feed yard in Oklahoma that specializes in backgrounding beef-on-dairy calves and includes a heifer-raising operation.
Beavers articulates the level of integration they’ve achieved: “The farm basically is now fully integrated,” he states.
By producing their own feed and using a methane-capturing digester installed two years ago, the farm enhances its sustainability efforts and operational efficacy.
Leverage Technology
A pivotal element in Full Circle’s efficiency narrative is their embrace of advanced technology. Activity monitoring collars, a key technological tool, facilitate the monitoring of cow behavior.
“As the cow exits the milking parlor, the collar informs us if she needs attention,” Beavers explains.
This information complements other systems, such as automatic sort gates and a management rail, and optimizes time management by allowing the farm to focus on individual cow needs without disrupting the entire herd.
Beavers shares they now are better at time management when it comes to the cows, as they used to lock up 100% of the cows to work on a few. Now they can focus on the individual cow needs and not disrupt the entire herd.
In all areas of their Texas operation, measurement and data underpin decision-making. Daily milk production is scrupulously recorded with cutting-edge technology slated to soon record an individual cow’s milk yield, fat and protein content. Beavers expresses enthusiasm about the forthcoming advancements, including laboratory-grade analysis for each stall. This data, which provides insights into energy, health and feed efficiency, supports strategic decisions such as therapeutic care driven by subclinical indicators and herd management decisions based on milk production.
Comprehensive Calf Care
Attention to detail extends to their thorough calf care protocols. Immediately after birth, calves undergo a meticulous process — being weighed, tagged and having navels dipped in iodine, followed by a warm water bath and blow-drying. The cows are milked in a specialized parlor where colostrum testing occurs using a brix test.
“Anything over 22 brix is considered No. 1 feeding colostrum,” Beavers shares.
He says there are several purposes to washing a calf after birth.
“First, it helps clean the calf by reducing bacterial load the calf comes in contact with during the birthing process. It also helps dry the calf, which allows the natural defense mechanism of the hair coat to insulate the calf. The maternal cleansing also stimulates blood flow in the calf’s body and invigorates the calf,” he says.
Beavers adds the process of washing calves with warm water, then blow drying, is their attempt to imitate the natural process of a cow licking her offspring soon after birth.
“It replicates the cleansing, drying and blood flow stimulation while we are providing care for the calf in a clean, warm and dry environment,” he says.
A Comparative Look
While the dairy sector at Full Circle benefits from real-time data and technology, their feed lot operations involve longer feedback periods.
“In the feed lots, when we make a feed change, it takes us 150 days or 180 days to obtain results to go off of,” Beavers says. “With the level of technology and data that we collect from the dairy, it’s a night and day difference.”
Full Circle Jerseys exemplifies how integration and technology can revolutionize modern farming, elevating efficiency, sustainability and productivity. By continually innovating, they set a benchmark for the future of dairy farming.
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