As one of only three dairy farm families left in Kane County, Sarah and Andy Lenkaitis focus on three pillars: caring for cows, caring for people working with the cows and being good neighbors. The family always welcomes new ideas as the population of the Chicago collar county grows and they are eager to answer consumers’ questions. Sarah shared with Partners information about their dairy farm, Lenkaitis Holsteins.
How did the farm begin and how has it grown through the years?
The farm west of St. Charles was purchased in 1983 by Andy’s parents. We began farming in partnership with them in 2014, built a new facility in 2018 and purchased the farm in 2021. I grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm and work full time on our farm. Andy works full time for an ag equipment technology company. We are making upgrades, so the farm is more sustainable. We grew the herd to 85 cows and have room to expand to 110. The new barn design focuses on cow well-being. We grow our own feed with various cropping strategies while incorporating manure as a natural fertilizer.
What do you do to be a good neighbor?
We have two subdivisions surrounding us, so we minimize the smell and noise. We built the barn in a strategic location to cut down on both. Nearly everything from keeping fresh feed in front of the cows to cleaning the barn to milking is now automated with the latest technology. We designed the barn to store liquid manure underneath to protect it from the elements. Our manure separator works like a wringer washer. Fibers and liquid are separated, and fibers are used as cow bedding. We also share it with homeowners and landscapers. We offer tours to share the area’s rich dairy history and answer questions.
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How do you keep your cows comfortable?
Our cows live the life. They are creatures of habit and like consistency. When they are clean, dry and comfortable, they give good milk. Cows prefer cooler temperatures than people, and they are susceptible to heat and cold stress in the wide range of Illinois temperatures. Our free stall barn is temperature controlled. The ventilation is automatic with fans that turn off and on, and curtains along the sides open and close to maintain the ideal temperature, much like a house with a thermostat. Cows roam the barn, rest, eat and set their own milking schedules.
How do you keep your cows healthy?
Cows are animals, so unlike people who can describe their symptoms, we have to do some detective work if we think a cow is sick. A veterinarian comes to the farm about once a month to assess the herd. Our cows each wear an activity collar much like a Fitbit. The collar records data on when each cow eats, rests, milks and ruminates. We know if a cow eats less, becomes inactive or has lower milk production, she may be sick. This data allows us to make informed decisions on how to treat any illness.
How does technology improve your farm?
Technology allows us as caretakers to make daily tasks more ergonomic. In addition to automated barn cleanup and feeding, we have a robotic milking system that works with the activity collars. When a cow decides she wants to be milked, she enters. The system checks if enough time has passed since her last milking. Cows are milked two to five times daily. The machine cleans and preps the udder for milking, milks for three to five minutes and applies a protective teat dip before she exits.
Learn more about Lenkaitis Holsteins in this Partners podcast:
Listen to “Dose of Dairy Detail” on Spreaker.
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The cows are the most important part of the farm !