We visited 2 different farms in March when we attended the 25th Anniversary of Genetic Austria and the National Show; I have been going to Austria for over 20 years.
The improvement in Milk Yield and the Udder Quality of the cows is breath taking - The Fleckvieh Breed is the fastest growing breed in the World today. With the difficult times we are all facing in Milk Production, the Fleckvieh cow stands out on her own. Milk, Fat & Protein, Excellent Beef Value for calves and cull cows, and low vet bills.
Our Second Farm Visit: Welcome to Family Hagler's Farm
Our second farm stop brought us to another exceptional example of progressive Fleckvieh breeding, demonstrating highly efficient production traits and outstanding herd performance management.
Farm Description
Workforce:
Josef and Renate, Viktoria and Katharina
Area data:
29 ha agricultural land
- →of which 2,5 ha leased
- →15 ha grassland
- →14 ha farmland (5 ha rotational grassland, 4 ha cereals, 5 ha silage maize)
Main Production Focus:
Part-time farming operation with dairy production
Livestock:
- 30 dairy cows
- 28 female young stock
Feeding:
- Feed delivery using a silo comb: 50% grass silage, 50% maize silage
- Grain concentrate mix: barley, maize, beet pulp, soybean meal, rapeseed meal, mineral feed, feed lime, salt
Housing:
- Dairy cows: free-stall barn with straw–manure mattress bedding
- Milking system: 2 × 8 side-by-side swingover milking parlour (Dairymaster)
- Heifers: tie-stall housing in the old building
Buildings and Machinery:
- Construction of the new dairy barn in 2012
- 25 kWp photovoltaic system with 40 kWh storage capacity
- Machinery cooperation with two neighbouring farms (slurry tanker, mowers, rake, manure spreader)
Breeding Achievements:
Breeder of the positively proven sires: GS VOGT, GS DIADORA, GS WONDER
Performance:
| Year | Number of Cows | Milk (kg) | Fat % | Protein % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.4 | 8,022 | 4,09 | 3,44 |
| 2005 | 18.3 | 8,539 | 4,13 | 3,44 |
| 2010 | 20.7 | 9,133 | 4,34 | 3,60 |
| 2015 | 29.5 | 10,191 | 4,42 | 3,50 |
| 2020 | 30.0 | 12,598 | 4,19 | 3,48 |
| Sliding: | 28.2 | 11,752 | 4,29 | 3,57 |