The shift to a robotic milking system was a foundational decision, replacing their previous 90-cow tiestall setup. Hurtgen emphasized that the robots solved the critical issue of labor scarcity, a large bottleneck in the future of farming, and significantly improved the quality of life for the operators. More importantly, it allowed them to achieve a “higher level of management,” dedicating increased time to the care of all animal groups—calves, dry cows, and heifers. Although the large capital investment and maintenance costs are acknowledged “cons,” the system allows the family to be off the farm, as demonstrated by their attendance at the World Dairy Expo.

The farm is also pioneering animal health management by becoming the first dairy in the U.S. to adopt the SmaXtec health monitoring system from Austria. This technology involves placing an internal bolus in each animal’s reticulum, which precisely measures inner body temperature, water intake, rumination, and activity. Hurtgen noted the system’s superiority over external sensors, as internal data, especially actual body temperature, leads to more accurate insights. The technology has been a “game changer” for reproduction, resulting in a sharp increase in conception rates, reduced hormone costs, and fewer cases of twisted stomachs and calving losses.

Beyond the barn, Hurtgenlea Holsteins is experimenting with sustainable cropping systems, backed by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant. Bartel, who is also a research scientist at Iowa State University, is leading the first U.S. trial of an alfalfa-corn intercropping system using strip tillage and suppression techniques. The system involves seeding alfalfa and planting corn on top of it, with five different replicated strips testing 30-inch and 60-inch corn interrow spacing. Given the farm’s limited acreage, maximizing crop production and efficiency through these lower-risk practices is essential for securing high-quality ruminant forage.