Source: American Jersey Cattle Association news release
Clover Patch, a Registered Jersey™ dairy owned by Alan and Sharon Kozak of Millersburg, Ohio, will be one of eight North American dairy operations to be featured in World Dairy Expo’s 2010 Virtual Farm Tour program.
The video tour, which will be narrated by Alan Kozak, will start at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 in Mendota 1 meeting room in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis. The American Jersey Cattle Association is the program sponsor.
Achieving long-term financial security and providing a high quality of life for family and employees have been Alan and Sharon Kozak’s main focus in operating a successful dairy. Every aspect of their business reflects their attitude of working with what you have, thoroughly planning, carefully executing, and persevering in the face of setbacks.
Alan and Sharon started in the dairy business in 1991 by renting dairy facilities and focusing on ownership efforts on cattle. While working on budgets and planning, they determined that management-intensive grazing was their best route to long-term success. They decided to go with Registered Jersey™ cattle because of their higher milk component levels, adaptability, and high fertility. Plus, the smaller body size of Jerseys made them the only breed able to fit in the existing facilities and stalls.
Today, the Kozaks’ herd of 900 Jerseys—430 in milk—is managed on a 450-acre farm outside Millersburg, Ohio. The July rolling herd average was 17,816 lb. milk, 843 lb. fat and 668 lb. protein per cow, and the herd ranks in the top 25% of Jersey herds ranked by herd average Jersey Performance Index™.
With superior calf management, a stringent Johne’s disease control program and the use of sexed semen, Clover Patch has achieved tremendous internal herd growth since 2002. This has increased their revenue stream through the sale of excess cows and replacement heifers. In addition, they have made numerous improvements to the farm through land and water conservation. Intensive management of grazing pastures and hay fields is supplemented by year-round TMR.
In late June of 2009, Clover Patch hosted the joint field day of the Ohio Forage Growers Council, Small Farm Institute and World Jersey Cattle Bureau.
Alan Kozak currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Dairy Policy Action Coalition (DPAC), the Advisory Committee to the State Veterinarian of Ohio, and the North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Council. He is also a past-president of the Ohio Forage & Grassland Council.
Other Virtual Farm Tours feature dairy businesses located in Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, and Kansas. They are being sponsored by Structures Unlimited LLC, Semex, AgSource Cooperative Services, Quality Liquid Feeds, Grow Wisconsin Dairy Team, Kansas Department of Commerce, and Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed. There is no charge for these programs.
World Dairy Expo opens Tuesday, Sept. 28 with the Central National Jersey Show starting at 1 p.m. in the Coliseum. The cow show continues on Wednesday morning and concludes with selection of the Grand Champion by judge Kelly Barbee, Concord, N.C.
The Top of the World Jersey Sale kicks off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28 in the sale pavilion. Jersey Marketing Service, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is the sale manager.
The American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. will have an exhibit throughout Expo. It will be located in the Coliseum at Arena Level 101 and 102.
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