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On Thursday, June 23rd, CSIF and SkyView Farms hosted a calving barn open house. With 125 people in attendance, the event consisted of a panel discussion, remarks from industry representatives, and tours of the barn.
During the panel discussion Laura and Aaron Cunningham shared insight into why they chose to build a calving barn for SkyView Farms. “The simple answer is that pasture is a premium. We weren’t always sure if we were going to have pasture for our cows to graze in the summer, so we decided to make the investment to make sure we always have a great space for cows to relax and this is the result,” said Laura.
In their first year of raising cattle from gate to plate, the Cunninghams have observed changes and improvements in herd health. The most notable change being the 80-pound increase in weaning weight, Laura attributes it to the calves getting the best start they possibly can. She explains, “we don’t have to go through the fight of the March rain or the April change in temperatures. All of that remains constant for the calves under here.”
Kelly Daniels of Hedgewood Equipment joined the discussion as well, explaining the beginning steps of the process. “We start out visiting and talking about what your goals are, how many cattle, what kind of cattle, whether it’s cow/calf or feeder calves and we start out with a layout. With this barn we had where the concrete was going to be, where the fountains would be, and just make sure that would flow with how you want to run your operation.”
The coalition, created by farmers to serve farmers, is here to help families grow their livestock farms responsibly and successfully. We can help with siting, planning, construction, following all rules and regulations, and neighbor relations. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-800-932-2436.
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