Skyline Dairy Awarded Best Milk Quality in Manitoba
The farm, which achieved an average somatic cell count (SCC) of under 57,000, is the first robotic dairy in the province to win such high honours. The farm in Grunthal milks with four DeLaval VMS™ V300 units installed in the spring of 2022 after using VMS Classic robots since 2008.
Jarryd Preston, dairy herd advisor for Tristar Ag, attributes Skyline’s success to the strong farm management of owners and brothers David and Charles Wiens.
“The team at Skyline has great managers who are very forward thinking,” said Preston. “They prioritize using the best solutions with the best practices to help them reach their goals.”
Skyline Dairy is motivated to achieve excellence in milk quality, in conjunction with other industry partners, because it is what the consumer expects and deserves.
"Continual focus on the details and improvements for the cows—from diet to comfort and environment—are contributing factors," said David Wiens. “Our staff also plays a large role in this achievement."
The team at Skyline Dairy has been a key part of the farm’s success. Pictured (from left to right) is Johann Priebe, Alena Kannengiesser, Doug Priest and Rachel Boonstoppel.
Skyline Dairy’s herdsman, Doug Priest, says building an excellent farm reputation required a multi-pronged approach.
“We began with reducing mastitis treatment, and as that got better, so did our [milk] quality,” said Priest. “We also switched our standard operating procedures to include pre- and post-dip rather than just post-dip and saw sustained improvements. Plus, a new bedding system of finer straw helped improve animal health and environment.”
Multiple dairies using VMS receive milk quality recognition
Seven out of the 10 farms recognized by DFM for excellence in milk quality were Tristar Ag customers. Reutter Dairy, also of Grunthal, was awarded fifth place and milks more than 450 cows with nine DeLaval VMS V300 robots. The farm averaged an SCC of under 77,000 and a plate count of under 8,000. Reutter Dairy also topped Lactanet’s latest report for best overall farm for SCC in Manitoba.
“At Tristar, we are committed to the farmers we serve,” said Preston. “Their goals are our goals, and with a winning combination of advisory, service and solution assortment, we are proud to play a part in their success.”
David Wiens confirmed the critical role Tristar and DeLaval played in helping them achieve their milk quality goals.
"The service and support from Tristar and DeLaval have been extremely important to us,” he said. “They have helped us keep the condition and standards of the equipment high so we can reach our goals."
High-quality milk with VMS
VMS users in Canada continue to prove it is possible to produce high-quality milk with robots. Lactanet, which analyses the milk quality of more than 8,000 farms in Canada, recognized top milk quality from multiple farms using DeLaval VMS robots in its latest reports featuring 2021 farm data. In addition to awarding Reutter Dairy as the best overall farm for SCC in Manitoba, Willswilkk Holsteins of Mill Bay, British Columbia, and Robella Holsteins of Balgonie, Saskatchewan, received recognition for best SCC in their respective provinces. Two of the top four robotic dairy farms for SCC in Alberta are VMS owners and operators—Hulleman Farms and Fairville Farming Co. Ltd.
The DeLaval VMS milking system allows for flexibility in dairy operations and helps ensure each cow is milked to her individual needs and capacity. Operators can use their preferred cow flow system, capture more data at each milking, and keep animal welfare as a consistent priority.