[September 11, 2012]    

On Sunday, the Irwin Dairy farm opened its barn doors and pasture for the world to learn a bit about dairy farming in Logan County. The dairy, which sells its milk to Prairie Farms, was part of the Fall Farm Day tour sponsored by Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County.

Pictures by Jan Youngquist

There was something for everyone who made the visit. The youngest visitors enjoyed ice cream treats ... and close-up contact with 1- to 2-week-old calves.

Todd Irwin was excited that his 1-day-old calf had been born. This calf is special, as it is the offspring of his most prize-winning heifer. The dairy had collected the eggs of the cow, and they were fertilized with favorable bull characteristics and implanted in a surrogate cow.

 

The calves grow rapidly. One- and 2-week-old penned calves were spunky and playful.

 

The blue tag on the collar makes it so that every cow gets its nutritional needs met. The tag is a transponder triggering the timed release of a set amount of food as the cow's head enters the food cubicle. A computer keeps a record on each cow's intake.

Above the dairy, the night security workers take catnaps in a loft of "cat-o-miniums."