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Rock Valleys VanGrouw wins another production accolade

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ROCK VALLEY -- Smalltime dairy operations are becoming fewer and far between.

But, in 1987, Lee VanGrouw returned to northwest Iowa to begin his own dairy operation. It's an old-fashioned, family-run business.

DeGrouw had spent five years as a herdsmen for two large-scale dairies in "central California when he yearned for something simpler.

"I wanted something smaller," VanGrouw said. "Something we could run as a family."

Since then VanGrouw has built a reputation as one of the region's top dairy producers.

In 2004, he was named the Sioux County Dairy Producer of the Year and he's won gold medals for his commitment to excellence.

Recently, VanGrouw Dairy, Inc., was awarded with second-place recognition by the Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) for consistently high-quality milk production.

"It's judged by our test samples," VanGrouw said. "The bacteria count in the milk must be low, and the somatic cell count has to be low. It's an average of the whole year of milk production. Every batch is tested and sampled."

According to information found on wikipedia.com, a somatic cell count is one of the indicators of the quality of milk. Somatic cells are leukocytes (white blood cells). The number somatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria rises.

"Production of quality milk takes vigilance every day, from cow comfort and animal health to regular maintenance of equipment," said DFA Central Area field supervisor Earl Biggers. "Lee and Donna were recognized because they have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to providing DFA's customers and consumers with a high-quality milk product."

Measurements are taken from a milk bulk tank, and VanGrouw has two tanks in the milkhouse where he stores product. His tanks hold roughly 1,500 gallons of milk.

VanGrouw has used an automatic milking system from Boumatic that was first installed in 1991. The milkers automatically detach from the teats at the end of the process.

Cows are milked twice per day at 5:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. VanGrouw's operation features roughly 75 cows that produce on average 11,700 gallons of milk per every two days. One cow gives an average of 9-1/2 gallons.

The average milking time is five to six minutes and cows are milked in rotations of five or six at a clip. Before and after cows are milked, they are prepped with a special solution containing iodine used to ward off potential infections________________________

Milk produced at VanGrouw's dairy is shipped as far away as Omaha and parts of Minnesota. The milk is also used in cheese products made at Green Meadows Foods here in Hull.

The average day for a farmer also includes clean-up and feeding time.

Cows eat roughly 105 pounds of total mix ration (TMR) and drink 30 gallons of liquid per day. This ration contains corn-meal, corn silage, alfalfa, corn gluten, protein and straw.

There are also 64 heifers and calves in VanGrouw's operation.

A native of Redlands, Calif., VanGrouw spent 2-1/2 years at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa (Calif.) before attending Dordt College in Sioux Center and graduating with a degree in agribusiness.

As stated, this farm is run as a family entity.

Donna VanGrouw helps with the accounting, including accounts receivable and payable, plus she assists in feeding the baby calves.

When they aren't going to school at Dordt, sons Joshua and Curtis VanGrouw assist in fanning on the weekend, especially on Sundays. The couple also has twin daughters Jenessa and Ashley.

In addition, Dordt animal science student Andrew Vander Woude helps out on the farm twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The VanGrouw's are members of the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and the Iowa State Dairy Association.



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© 2010 Sioux County Index-Reporter Hull, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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