A2B-L«ncMtar Fanning, Saturday, October 22, 1994
Grober Inc. Presents
(Continued from Page A 27)
According to Long, who knew
of the farm, even though it wasn’t
listed for sale when Grober initial-
ly sought help in selecting a site.
because the area in general has
received “considerable develop
ment pressure,” it was difficult to
find property lhat could be bought
for a price consistent with agricul
tural use
Also on the site is a bam and two
silos, which are rented out, along
with the cropland to an area dairy
man who keeps dry cows and bred
heifers there.
The name of the farm is because
of the view from the ridge top, in
an area with surrounding farms.
The Blue Mountain is visible along
the northern horizon, especially on
clear days.
According to Grober officials,
the close proximity of thfc farm to
the headquarters will allow the 20
employees at the Lehigh plant to
all get an opportunity to help with
operations at the Blue Mountain
View Farm, so that they get a bet
ter appreciation for what the opera
tors have to consider.
The facility itself is to be man
aged by a young couple originally
from Bradford County, Kyle and
Suzanne Robinson. The two are to
live in the rennovated farm house
and Kyle is to manage, feed and
care for the calves. Suzanne is a
dental hygienist.
Kyle said he has fed veal calves
previously for different operators.
This place, which he helped con
struct, is very different.
In the feed room are two large
feed bins, where the milk replacer
dry formulations are kept.
Through sensors, the computer
“knows” how much of either the
starter or finisher formulation is in
the bin and when more should be
brought to the farm. It notifies
headquarters automatically to
bring feed.
Under computer control, the dry
matter is emptied by auger into a
mixing container, like a large mix
ing bowl. A large hot water heater
provides the water and the mixed
forumla is pumped to a second
holding container, also with a mix
ing rod to maintain consistency.
From this second container, the
fluid milk replacer is pumped and
through pipelines is fed out to each
of the veal raising rooms.
To feed the veal calves, Kyle
has to tap into a valve in each of the
calve rooms and feed each one.
To set the ration, the computer
receives the ratio of starter to
finisher, set according to the stage
of growth of the calves, and creates
the mixutre on site.
After each feeding, the lines
have to cleaned out
Chris Lines, editor and
publisher of a veal industry news
paper, The Producer’s Connection,
said the Blue Mountain View Farm
is the most modem of all facilities
of which she is aware, and only one
of two in the United States, the
other being located in Wisconsin.
Richard “Smokey” Burgess, a
cattle supplier, said he was very
impressed with the facility. “That
loading dock is really nice. If peo
ple were used to loading and
unloading they would see how
easy this is.”
Burgess is an independent cattle
supplier who does a lot of work for
Grober and the company’s con
tract growers. He buys calves from
36 livestock auctions in fourstates.
And, in fact, while some have
lamented the apparent diminish
ment in use of local livestock auc
tions, because of contract farming,
Burgess said that the auctions are
very necessary to provide the bull
calves for these operations.
He said that demand from oper
ations like Grober will continue to
add to the demand for dairy bull
calves at auction.
Guy Tober, president of Grober
Inc., and board member of the
American Veal Association, said
that one of the additional goals in
building the facility was to
increase interest in veal facilities,
but still the company does most of
its veal raising through contract
raising.
According to Tober, fanners
looking to augment income, or
stan out, can expect to earn about
$5O per head, with more possible
through a bonus program that
rewards top management.
Burgess, while not in the veal
raising business per se, said it has
been his experience that dairymen
considering contracting should be
nna
Polled Star Palm Y Switz Pol Target
A Modern Veal Raising Facility
V' '
Kyle Robinson sits at the computer desk which is the “brain” and heart of the mod
ern veal raising facility. The computer controls the inside climate, mixes rations auto
matically according to desired ingredient ratios, notifies headquarters when more
feed is needed, and can automatically call for help, if programming develops a glich.
aware that raising veal calves is
intensive and more management is
needed than typically used to raise
calves. He said that dairymen
should consider their time avail
able and resources before commit
ting themselves.
tober said he is always looking
for farmers willing to do contract
raising, and that those interested .
should call the company for more
information.
He said the market for veal
calves in the immediate area is in
New York and Philadelphia and
Select Full Blood Lots Sell
Meadowhill Aramis
10 Herd Sire
Prospects Sell
6421 Avondale Drive, Suite 202
Oklahoma City, OK 73116
(405)840-9012
that market demand is good, but through checkoff dollars have
should get better. helped and he said he expects it to
Promotion efforts funded continue.
Itt
tPraJjTcss
Fall Feature Sale Selling 60 Lots
November 5, 1994 Reds & Blacks
1:00 PM Selling Our Best
Purcellville, Virginia SIMMENTALS
Sale Day Phone:
(703) 668-6777. V
Selling 15
Cow/Calf Pairs
Many Bred Back
Donald T. Virts and Family
Rt. 1, Box 635
Purcellville, VA 22132
(703) 668-6777 • (703) 668-6465 FAX
Mitch Leonarski (609) 629-5851
Custom Filer - Show Cattle
Truck Theft Reported
Henry Stoltzfus called to say that his driver on con
struction jobs, Roy McGallisher, had his truck taken
last week from a parking lot near the Best Western
Motel in Intercourse. The truck was a white, 1979 4x4
Plymouth Trailduster with tinted windows. The truck
has both an ignition key and a pushbutton starter. Any
one who may know about this theft may call (717)
768-3387. A reward is offered.
IRS MA.
Black M.
Bodacious sire: Black Knox
Broderick x Black Max
Born 4-8-94 Open
Sale Consultant:
Doug Parke (606) 987-5758
Auctioneer
Merrill Anderson (217) 837-2222
Tom Whalen (412) 4854875