Colby Dairy Farm Enters the World of Robotic Milking

Friday, April 5th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Danielle Nauman, Dairy Star) A project that began several years ago and has encompassed hundreds of hours of careful planning and consideration became a reality at Heeg Brothers Dairy when the family entered the world of robotic milking.

According to Danielle Nauman with Dairy Star, three generations of the Heeg family work together on the farm. Brothers Mark, Gary and Jay are partners in the operation. Their father, August, remains active on the farm, hauling tankers of milk from the farm to Mullins Cheese four days a week.

The farm was established in 1999 when the herds owned by August and Mark were combined at one facility.Mark’s son, Nathan, and Gary’s son, Cory, work on the farm full time and are in the process of transitioning into ownership.

Jay’s daughter, Jazmyn, helps on the farm and will be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the fall to major in dairy science. The Heegs farm 3,300 acres, growing all the forages needed to feed their milking herd and youngstock.

On Dec. 5, 2023, eight DeLaval VMS-300 robotic milking units in two pens were turned on for the first time. The Heegs are milking 450 cows in the robotic facility and an additional 1,000 cows in their existing double-14 parallel parlor.

The Heegs are opening their farm for visitors April 12 to share their experience of introducing robots.

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