Newalta Dairy -- Pipestone, MN

John and Berlinda Vander Wal operate this 750-cow dairy and are in the process of expanding to 1,200 cows. Cows are currently housed in a 4-row naturally ventilated barn. Barn equipment includes De Boer Stalinrichting freestalls and DeLaval swinging cow brushes. The Vander Wals have experimented with several types of bedding and are currently using oat hulls and sawdust. They pasteurize milk for calves, which they raise on the farm until the calves are weaned. Other facilities include a BouMatic double 20 parlor (expandable to double 40), Cozy Calf housing, a special needs barn and a two-level commodity shed with a drive-through load alley.

Pictures from the tour below. Click on Each picture to see a larger view.