Nestled in Ettrick, WI is Wegnerlann Dairy, owned and operated by Tom and Annaliese Wegner and Jeff and Betty Wegner. The farm milks 650-head three times per day in a double-eight parallel parlor. Their breeding philosophy focuses on a healthy, trouble-free, medium-sized cow with high milk production. The herd averages 93 pounds of milk per cow with 4.4% fat and 3.3% protein test.
Annaliese’s role as The Modern Day Farm Chick, sharing her family and farm story on social media, has laid the foundation for the farm’s goal of building a farm and consumer network and educating the public about the dairy industry. There’s great value in a breeding strategy that creates healthier cows that are more efficient and have reduced impact on the environment.
With their breeding goals in mind, Wegnerlann selects sires based on NM$, Combined Fat and Protein and some functional type traits. They work closely with CentralStar Genetic Consultant, Perry Phend, who uses the Select Mating Service® (SMS®) program to create the most profitable mating combinations.
The farm utilizes DairyComp 305 for managing farm records, and in the past five years, implemented an activity monitoring system which allows for cattle to be observed more closely without increased labor inputs. The farm seeks employees who are passionate about their roles and offers continual training on animal handling practices and cow comfort to ensure animals are cared for appropriately.
Growth is on the horizon for Wegnerlann, but not in the traditional sense of adding more cows. “My passion for sharing my farm life with others has me thinking of different ways to grow our operation. I would love to do more things that bring our community directly to our farm,” says Annaliese. “Tom is a cow guy. What he loves most is being with the cows, not the people. So, when we think about growth, more cows and more employees is likely not what is going to be the answer for us.”
They are considering diversification into beef on dairy with a direct-to-consumer beef business. Through direct marketing and potentially delving into agritourism on the farm, they hope to connect the community with their local farmers.