The Schultz family in Freeman, South Dakota, runs a multigenerational dairy and crop operation that now milks more than 2,100 cows. The farm combines dairy, beef and feed production with a local labor force and community ties that support day-to-day operations. Family members share roles across milking, feed management and business decisions to keep the operation integrated and diversified.
The dairy operates a large parlor configuration that handles different milking schedules: about half the herd is milked three times daily and the other half twice, allowing the farm to process the equivalent of over 5,000 cows daily during a 24-hour period. Milk is cooled quickly to maintain quality and the farm follows strict sanitation, pausing milking for cleaning every 12 hours. Each storage tank holds around 7,000 gallons, and the average cow on the operation produces roughly 80 pounds of milk per day.
Technology and care
The operation has adopted manure-solids bedding produced by pressing liquid manure to remove water and reduce odor, creating abundant, dust-reduced bedding that improves cow comfort. Managers say softer bedding encourages cows to lie down more, which supports feed intake and milk production. Feed is mostly homegrown, with expanded storage to allow forages to ferment for at least three months before feeding, improving feed quality and consistency.
Individual cows wear activity sensors that record movement and head angle to track eating time and detect heat, letting the team target insemination windows and catch sickness earlier. The farm also uses sorted female semen to increase heifer rates and grow the herd from within. Newborn calves are moved to individual outdoor hutches soon after birth, receive tagged identification and high-quality colostrum, and are clothed for winter protection when needed.
Labor and milk quality are priorities: the dairy employs about 32 full-time employees and emphasizes a safe workplace and consistent milk cooling and shipping routines. Staff monitor calvings around the clock, move fresh cows to clean beds for freshening and maintain frequent cleaning cycles for equipment to protect milk quality. Managers note their milk tends to have higher solids, even if per-cow daily pounds are not industry-high extremes.
Quality and community
The family sells through a regional milk cooperative with processing plants nearby, including one a short haul from the farm, which helps keep deliveries reliable in severe weather. The Schultzes support local agronomy services, equipment dealers, the volunteer fire department and the regional hospital; they have even donated livestock to local school food programs. Family members balance on-farm duties with off-farm work and school activities, keeping the operation connected to the town economy.
Expansion plans
The Schultzes plan continued incremental growth: they expect to complete a second half of their tunnel-vent barn and have long-term goals to build a carousel parlor that would be capable of milking more than 4,000 cows at a time. Investment decisions center on technologies and facilities that improve cow comfort, maintain milk quality and support the next generation of operators.
Photo - Holly Wortmann
Photo - eu-images.contentstack.com
