As a dairy farm spanning five generations and 143 years in operation, Shuler Dairy Farms can proudly say it’s dedicated to its craft. Located just minutes away from Lake Michigan in Baroda, Mich., the 300 acre farm is owned by Bill and Carolyn Shuler and their sons, Billy and Wyatt. The farm’s roots stretch all the way back to its establishment in 1882, and the family has proudly been milking cows ever since.
As the Shuler farm celebrated over a hundred years in operation, the family saw it as the perfect time for major upgrades. In 2015, they built a new milking barn, more than doubling their herd from 50 to 120 cows. The updated facility features an open pack area where cows can comfortably rest, tunnel ventilation to improve air quality and two robotic milking machines to enhance efficiency.
As the machines are fully automatic, the Shuler family says the voluntary milking systems free their cows from demanding milking schedules. When a cow is ready to be milked, it approaches the machine where its radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag is read, giving the robot all the information related to that cow. The machine then knows where to put the lactation devices for that specific cow, as well as provides a determined amount of feed.
On average, cows are milked three times a day, however the robots can determine what each animal’s schedule should be based on their lactation cycle. “Some cows could be milked every four hours or every 12, it all depends on their cycle,” says Billy Shuler.
With the robotic milking machine running around the clock, cows can eat while they’re milked and relax on their own timetable. “It allows us to really focus on cow comfort,” The Schulers said. “They don’t have to stand in long lines, they’re milked faster and it gives them more time to just be a cow.”
Beyond benefits for the cows, the new robotic milking machines also gives staff more flexibility. Instead of being constantly tied to the milking parlor, they can now focus on other important tasks around the farm.
The Shuler farm is no stranger to visitors. Offering tours six days a week, the Shuler family and its staff are always eager to showcase their daily operations. Guests range from local school groups to tourists visiting nearby cities, and some travel from as far away as Taiwan and China. Tour highlights include petting baby calves, watching the robotic milking machines in action and talking with the farmers directly about their work. Visitors can even end their visit with a fresh treat of soft serve ice cream.
Billy says the tours are especially rewarding because they give people a behind-the-scenes look at the dairy industry. “It’s enjoyable to meet different people, explain why we do what we do and it’s so fun to see the lightbulb go on as they learn something new.”
Many visitors come with lots of questions, but that’s just part of the fun. As Billy’s father puts it, “There’s no such thing as a dumb question on a dairy farm.”
The Shuler Family
Photo credit: Shuler Dairy Farms