Ysselstein Dairy -- Rock Valley, Iowa

Seventeen years ago Ysselstein Dairy was one of the first large dairies to begin operation in northwest Iowa. At that time, Shep and Natalie Ysselstein milked 300 cows. Today, they milk approximately 7,000 cows. The dairy uses several management practices that are rare in the I-29 corridor, including housing 2,500 lactating cows in outside lots and loafing barns. The lactating cow ration also includes a limited amount of corn and corn silage. The Ysselsteins are also the owners of the new Green Meadows Foods cheese/whey plant being built in nearby Hull, Iowa.

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