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In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Alan Davis of Davis Farms LLC in Butler/Armstrong County, Pennsylvania describes his family’s decision to upgrade to robots versus building a new parlor for their 150-cow herd. He shares how the shift to robotics has helped them make data-driven breeding decisions and achieve earlier intervention when it comes to herd health. From managing heifer inventories to budgeting and balancing debt load, Alan opens up about navigating bottlenecks, learning that less is sometimes more, and using their data to make financially advantageous decisions.

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“Profitability is paramount, and we try to never be satisfied. What can we do to keep pushing production and maximize our facility?”

Speaking to their forward-thinking approach and eye for critical details, David Sattazahn, who farms with his brother Doug and wife Katie on Zahncroft Dairy in Berks County, Pennsylvania, reflects on some of the decisions that have led their family, farm and herd to where they are today in this episode of Cow-Side Conversations. After transitioning the family farm and then completing an expansion in 2017, today the Sattazahn family farms about 300 acres and milks 315 cows in a double-twelve parlor and sand-bedded, free stall set-up. David describes the decision-making process of moving to 3x a day milking, switching to custom drag lining and manure injection, hiring and mentoring a dairy herd manager apprentice, honing in on reproduction, creating energy corrected milk goals for the year, and more. To avoid complacency and drive profitability, David says they critique what they’re doing, work with experts they trust, try new ideas, evaluate the results, and remain open to switching course as the farm evolves.

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In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Jeremy Martin of Mountain View Holsteins LLC in Berks County, Pennsylvania shares his unconventional journey after taking over management of his family’s dairy farm at the young age of 17 when his father unexpectedly passed away. With 140 cows in their herd, Jeremy describes how he focuses on production, cow comfort, breeding, and ways to make farming fun. Jeremy also shares how he has shifted more into business management over the last three years, his outlook on avoiding burnout, and his philosophy on what farm transition looks like when working with the next generation.