Dean, Dan and Dave Duitsher are the owners of Dutchland Dairy Farm. Dean, the father, is a retired veterinarian. Dave the younger brother, received his veterinarian degree from Iowa State University, then practiced veterinary medicine in Wisconsin for 2 years before moving back to Rolfe to help start the dairy. Dan the older brother was a plant manager of a milk processing plant in Wichita, Kansas before his family moved home in the spring of 2000.
The dairy started moving dirt in the fall of 1997. Construction on the Dairy started in the Spring of 1998 and the first cow was milked in the parlor in August of 1998. Initially the dairy was set up to milk 350 cows, 3 times a day. In the summer of 1999 the east end of the free stall barn was extended to add an additional 100 head of cows. During 2000 a 100 head fresh cow barn was added. During the winter of '04/'05 a 220 cow barn was added to the north and additional manure storage was added.
Dallas Jansen was contracted to raise heifer calves and continues to this day. He does and exceptional job of raising heifers and works with the same nutritionist used by Dutchland Dairy Farm.
Forage is purchased from Dean Duitscher. The local farmers cooperative and Form A Feed provide the protein mix and nutrition work for the dairy. Dry Hay is purchased from South Dakota and locally. The milk is marketed through AMPI. Veterinarian work is provided by Dave Duitscher. Manure is liquid applied using a drag line by Maple Leaf Environmental and the solid portion is hauled by Dutchland Dairy Farm.
Created on 05/24/2005 10:02 AM by MikeMajorowicz
Updated on 08/03/2005 02:03 AM by MikeMajorowicz
