Farm: Villa Crest
Sunday we travel onwards from Fort Akinson to Goshen, IN.
Villa Crest is a stunningly beautiful white barn filled with Golden Guernsey cows, operated by Verl & Gretchen Weaver. There are approximately 35 pristine milking cows, supported by 160ac of tillable land, who a fed a basic grain ration with alfalfa hay, bailage and corn silage. The Weavers focus on individual high cow production and high classicfication scores – Verl’s aim is Excellent 100,000lb cows – currently the herd is averaging 86 points with a RHA of over 20,000;bs milk, 1000 Fat 700 Protein.
The barn is spotless, the cows are washed and just about show ring ready in the bright and airy space – incredible given the barn was built around the mid-late 1800s, and yet the ceiling height is comfortably high. There is a combination of tie-stall and free pens in the first barn, and an added free stall allow for optimal cattle movement. The lineup of animals in the tie-stall is stunning. The animals are long, lean and dripping dairyness. There are only stunning udders with tremendous width and ligament strength.
In the dry pen we see the matriarch Mar Ral Royal Martha EX94, still moving cleanly. The calves are well grown and with great rib as youngsters, with the older heifers out grazing pasture. A tremendous farm.
We enjoy dinner with the Weaver family courtesy of the Indiana Breeders Association.