June is National Dairy Month.
As part of recognizing dairy month, we were fortunate enough to catch up with some prominent dairy farmers throughout the county to comment on their industry.
(Pictured left, cows relaxing at Henry Farms, pictured right, workers in the Henry Farms milking parlor.)
Henry Farms near Middleburg operates the largest dairy farm in Logan County. The family owned operation involves nearly 3,500 acres of crops and the dairy milks 500 cows.
Mark Henry, manager of the dairy, remarks how important dairy is to the world. He also tells the importance of proper animal care, saying, “The better we take care of our animals, the better they take care of us.”
Henry Farms utilizes scientific feed practices, as well as up-to-date barns with temperature-controlled fans and individual waterbeds for improved cow comfort.
With about 10 workers, Henry Farms milk all 500 cows three times a day every day of the year. Each
milking takes about 5 hours to complete.
Also milking cows is the Re-Al Winner Farm outside of Bellefontaine. Along with many acres of crops, the Winner family milks about 200 cows.
Some unique features about the Winner Farm are their use of dried and pressed manure, which has a consistency of peat moss to bed the cows. In tests, this type of bedding proves to lower incidents of mastitis and improves cow health overall. This along with many other responsible agricultural practices is used daily at both dairies.
Listen to Mark Henry of Henry Farms comment about his dairy.
Listen to Renee Winner of Re-Al Winner Farms comment about their dairy.
