Jeffreholme Farms took the leap and transitioned from tie-stall to GEA robotic barn
Dwight Garrett, Leanne Garrett, Eden Garrett, Ashlyn Garrett, Mark Jeffrey and Gabe Garrett
Mark Jeffrey from Jeffreholme Farms in Thorndale, Ontario, Canada, knew exactly what he wanted when he decided to upgrade his tie-barn into a free stall barn with two GEA DairyRobot R9500 milking robots.
Through the years, the Jeffrey family has pushed through their share of struggles to get to where they are today. Mark Jeffrey’s dad, Ken, moved to their farm in 1934 at the age of 10. Before moving to the farm, he had spent two years in a halfway house because his family had lost their first farm during The Great Depression.
During this time, Ken’s father became sick and could not run the farm. The family consisted of 7 boys and 4 girls, and Ken was 5th in line. They rented the farm for 17 years, and then Ken, at 27, helped his mother buy the farm. In 1970 Ken bought the farm from his mother and ran the farm with his wife and three children until 1987 when he sold the farm to Mark.
Dairy cows have been on the farm since the 1950s. They were shipping in cans until they upgraded to a bulk milk tank in 1966. As a young boy, Mark recalls the days when his family was milking with buckets and carrying the milk to the milk house to dump it into the tank manually. Then in 1970, Ken put in a pipeline, and by this point, they had also advanced to using a stable cleaner and a silo unloader.
Since 1987, Mark milked in the tie stall barn with a pipeline and added various silos and equipment along the way. He says, “Now in my late 50’s it was time to do something, and selling was not an option for me. So I toured both parlour and robot barns, and I knew what I wanted as soon I saw Comrie Farms – GEA robot farm in Ontario. So I built a 3 row free stall barn with sand, 2 GEA R9500 robots and GEA manure equipment.”
Mark Jeffrey built a 3 row free stall barn with sand, two GEA DairyRobot R9500 milking robots and GEA manure equipment.
Concerning his decision to go with the GEA R9500 robot, Mark also said, “Technology doesn’t scare me, and the investment was at the right time. Knowing what I did about robots, I liked the new generation of GEA and the pit for attaching manually when necessary.”
Technology doesn’t scare me, and the investment was at the right time. Knowing what I did about robots, I liked the new generation of GEA and the pit for attaching manually when necessary.”
Since moving into the new barn on November 3rd, 2020, the cows have increased from a low 30L average to a high 30L average to their current 40L average. Somatic Cell Count (SCC) has been improving, and they haven’t treated any cows for mastitis since then.
GEA DairyRobot R9500, the best for the cows
Since moving into the new barn on November 3rd, 2020, they have experienced the benefits of multiple milkings per day, the cows’ freedom in the free stalls, and the safer and easier animal handling practices that come with a barn equipped with headlocks. The cows have increased from a low 30L average to a high 30L average to their current 40L average. Somatic Cell Count (SCC) has been improving, and they haven’t treated any cows for mastitis since the move. Mark said that “I have always wanted what was best for the cows, and you can give them the best in today’s environment with the proAction measures that are in place for us to follow and the technological advancements that are available to us.”
I have always wanted what was best for the cows, and you can give them the best in today’s environment with the proAction measures that are in place for us to follow and the technological advancements that are available to us.”
GEA’s proven In-Liner Everything technology performs every step of the milking process — stimulation, teat cleaning, forestripping, milk harvest and post‑dipping — in a single attachment. Plus, milk analysis, milk flow monitoring and removal are done by quarter. It maximizes the amount of milk going to the tank and helps prevent overmilking teat by teat and facilitates a complete milk-out on all four quarters.
In addition to the tie stall to robot transition, another key transition has occurred on Jeffreholme Farms since the start-up. Mark has invited Dwight Garrett, from Dairy Lane Systems (GEA dealership) to be a partner with him on the farm. Dwight lives close to the farm, and he and his children have worked part time there for several years. Speaking about this transition, Mark says, “I have always wanted to help someone get into this incredible industry, and I want to be able to continue farming for years to come. I realized that the only way to do that is to work with someone. Hence the reason Dwight is here. We see eye to eye on many things and have the same end goal in sight. The knowledge base combined has gone well.”
Thank you to Mark Wescott from Dairy Lane System, Komoka, Ontario, Canada, for the story and pictures.
