e23. Loyd Borntrager - Grassfed Dutch Belted Dairy
In this episode of The Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal talks with Loyd Borntrager of Borntrager Dairy about transitioning from a conventional dairy to a grass-fed dairy, utilizing Dutch Belted cows and pastured rabbits. He is a second-generation dairy farmer and has their farm located in South Central Kansas.
Listen to this episode to learn more!
- [01:11] - About Loyd and his operation
- [03:31] - His backstory
- [06:11] - “If you want to be an organic farmer, you need to be grass farmer first.”
- [09:50] - Keeping the cows out longer by doing less tillage
- [10:25] - Why did he switch to Dutch Belted Cows from Holstein cow
- [12:40] - Crossing purebred bull to Holstein cow
- [14:39] - Milking the cows
- [16:25] - The problem on milking the cows once a day
- [18:28] - The amount of milk production he is getting
- [19:19] - The number of cows he milk
- [20:15] - Marketing the milk
- [21:09] - Other dairy products that he sells
- [23:46] - The kind of parlor he has
- [25:01] - Feeding the cows when they are in the parlor
- [26:04] - About sprouted fodder
- [27:26] - Feeding the cows when the paddocks are growing
- [29:13] - Moving the cows to new pasture daily
- [30:16] - Annual rainfall in Yoder
- [32:26] - Kind of pasture he has
- [35:34] - The kind of fencing he has
- [37:03] - Other livestock he has
- [39:43] - Marketing the rabbits
- [42:00] - The breed of chickens he has
- [43:04] - His favorite grazing grass related book
- [45:45] - Advice to new farmers
Show notes available to https://www.grazinggrass.com/episodes/23
Follow us on social media!
Website: https://grazinggrass.com/
Facebook: Grazing Grass Podcast
Instagram: @grazinggrass
Twitter: @grazing_grass
Creators and Guests
