With the drive to improve, Wiebren Jonkman, a visionary young dairy producer, purchased a Merced, California dairy and transformed it into a beacon of modern agricultural success.
In a world where agricultural practices are continually evolving, staying ahead requires more than just hard work and dedication. It demands a mindset open to change and improvement. This mindset was precisely what drove an innovative young dairy producer to purchase a Merced, Calif., dairy and transform it into a shining example of modern success.
In 2016, fueled by ambition and a vision for the future, Wiebren Jonkman and his wife, Luciana, embarked on a bold journey that would soon see success.
Building a Winning Team at Diamond J Dairy
This was thanks to Jonkman’s robust vision that intertwined a straightforward philosophy: without quality, success is unattainable. Drawing from his father’s wisdom, Jonkman compares this viewpoint to race car driving.
“If you don’t have a good race car, you can’t win,” he shares, noting this principle guided him to prioritize quality over quantity.
Soon, Jonkman would come to realize that growth and transformation do not occur in isolation. Alongside his wife, he is quick to point out it took a true team to help their dairy grow to be what it is today.
Sara Naillon, a Zoetis territory business manager concurs, saying that collaboration played a crucial role, as a team of consultants, including herself, along with the herd’s nutritionist and a breeder, provided necessary expertise. Jonkman adds that their veterinarian was also part of this united effort towards a common goal which circled around forward progress.
Naillon accentuates Jonkman’s commitment to progress, highlighting his eagerness to make the herd profitable quickly.
“Whatever he could do to move things along, he was willing to do,” she says. “Every decision Wiebren makes is to be more efficient as a business and provide more comfort for his animals, which in my eyes as an animal health rep, should be the number one and number two priorities as a dairyman, and he encompasses those.”
Jonkman has been an early adopter of dairy innovations to help improve cow health and productivity, increase milk components and inform reproductive decisions.
Jonkman started with whole-herd genomic testing. Instead of waiting to test heifers as they arrived from the calf ranch, he tested every female in the herd to quickly capture their information. Having every piece of the puzzle regarding the genomic performance and productivity potential of his herd, he had the necessary information to make breeding decisions that would help him achieve as much genetic progress as quickly as possible.
Already an early adopter of genomic testing, Jonkman jumped at the opportunity to implement Clarifide® Plus genomic test when Zoetis launched it for the Jersey breed in 2019. He upgraded previously-tested females that were still in the Zoetis lab. Doing so gave him the information on older lactation cows that he already tested. He used the Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®), a multi-trait selection index that expresses animals’ genetic potential to transmit more profit over her lifetime, to identify higher-ranking DWP$ cows that he could breed with sexed semen for potential replacement versus beef or conventional semen. Jonkman fully immersed himself in understanding the genetic traits from the get-go.
In addition to genomic testing, Jonkman has built new maternity and fresh cow barns and has made significant updates to his milking parlor.
“He’s made so many improvements and continues to make those improvements that he’s just making a more ideal and a more successful and profitable and healthier herd,” Naillon says.
A Transformative Approach to Dairy Farming
Reflecting on the early days of taking over the farm, Jonkman recalls their first strategic move after diving into the farm’s records.
“Once we purchased the dairy and dove into DairyComp we saw that everything was entered as being bull bred, even though it was an AI-bred herd” Jonkman says. “There was a good basis of genetics in the herd, but without accurate data we didn’t know the correct parentage. I knew then and there that we needed to breed everything to sexed semen and genomic test everything. We needed to weed out the bottom end.”
This strategic pivot allowed the Jonkmans to optimize their breeding practices, thereby enhancing the quality of their herd. At first, Jonkman bred as many heifers as possible and sold the surplus to producers in need. Eventually they scaled back the percentage bred to sexed semen, as genomics helped them come up with a blueprint on what protocols needed to be set to determine which animal gets bred to what.
Every month, Jonkman and his team analyze the latest data to recalibrate and project their current and future needs. This continuous evaluation and adaptation ensure their herd remains aligned with market demands.
Winning Strategy Grounded in Genomics
Today, Diamond J Dairy milks 1,100 Jersey cows with impressive metrics, including nearly 5.05% butterfat and 3.94% protein. Genomic testing plays a central role, driving tailored breeding strategies and herd health monitoring.
To other producers pursuing successful reproduction, the Jonkmans advise, “Develop a plan and stick with it; however, bear in mind that it’s a dichotomy to have a plan and also know when to pivot.”
Initial goals incorporated improvements to cow comfort and cooling, leading to a new freestall barn and enhanced cooling strategies. This focus on holistic cow health ensures optimal production outcomes.
“We try to take care of the cow so she can produce and ultimately make a better cow,” Jonkman says, nodding that genomics went to work for their dairy right out of the gate.
With the goal of breeding a better cow, for Jonkman that means better fertility with more milk, fat and protein, along with better health. They now choose sires based on milk, fat and protein, as well as daughter pregnancy rate (DPR). Late last year, Jonkman received one of the platinum awards from Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC). They strive to get heifers to calve around 21 months of age.
“If they are smaller, we will hold them back,” Jonkman shares, noting they recently implemented the CowManager monitoring system.
Jonkman’s commitment to improvement led to strict breeding protocols, such as ceasing to serve cows after 250 days in milk (DIM). His holistic approach to farm management emphasizes environmental and reproductive strategies without cherry-picking solutions.
The Continued Commitment to Improvement
Dr. Ralph Bruno, a Zoetis Dairy Technical veterinarian, advised Jonkman throughout his genomic testing journey. Bruno commends the management strategies at Diamond J Dairy, highlighting the dairy’s accomplishments through genomic testing and improved farm infrastructure.
“Wiebren’s commitment to continual improvement thrives on breeding a better cow—one with superior fertility, milk production, and overall health,” he says. “Through genomic testing, breeding decisions, cooling additions at their farm, they have been able to produce high index animals that have been recognized by the American Jersey Cattle Association,” he says, noting that many of the herds Diamond J Dairy is competing with have been milking Jerseys for generations.
The introduction of the CowManager in 2024 exemplifies this forward-thinking mindset. This monitoring system allows for the proactive detection of issues, enhancing transitions from dry cow to milking cow.
Although according to Jonkman breeding improvements don’t necessarily pay for the system.
“It’s more about how we can improve what we have. My transition from dry cow to milk is phenomenal, but what if I could take it down one more percent,” he says. “One percent will pay for the system.”
The Jonkmans current removal rate is 3.7 percent at 60 days in milk (DIM).
Future Plans: A Holistic Focus
By incorporating smart farming technology, the Jonkmans have shifted focus from identifying problem cows to having issues detected proactively. This approach, they believe, will enhance their transition from dry cow to milk even further. In his words, Jonkman hopes the cows come to him versus them having to always being on the lookout for the problem cow.
The DCRC award winner shares that producers who are looking to improve their herd, like what he and his family have been able to do, must take a holistic approach to management and not just focus on one problem.
“Stick to your protocols,” he says. “You cannot cherry pick.”
By investing in genetic advancements and surrounding themselves with a knowledgeable support team, the Jonkmans have transformed their dairy into an example of modern success. Their story is more than a tale of overcoming adversity. It’s an ongoing journey showing the world the limitless possibilities when true teamwork and forward-thinking strategies intertwine, paving the way for sustainable success in the dairy industry and beyond.
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