From Tradition to Technology at J-Springs Dairy

J-Springs Dairy blends over a century of family tradition with modern innovation. In 2024, they transitioned from a tie-stall barn to a new robotic milking facility with three Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking systems, boosting production and cow comfort while creating a more flexible workload.

J-Springs Dairy is more than just a family farm, it’s a testament to perseverance and proactive-thinking, rooted in over a century of hard work and family tradition.

The Springstroh family’s dairy journey began in 1913, when Otto Springstroh purchased the farm that would become a cornerstone for generations to come. In 1965, Otto’s son John and his wife, Judy, began buying into the family dairy farm, officially starting what would later be known as J-Springs Dairy.

Through the years, John continued to expand and improve the operation, acquiring neighboring farms to increase their cropland and support the growing herd. But in 1980, John passed away unexpectedly, leaving Judy to manage the farm and raise their three young children on her own. She carried the legacy forward, milking about 50 cows, raising young stock and managing 230 acres of cropland.

For decades, the family milked their herd in a traditional stanchion/tie-stall barn. As the herd grew, the family made the best of limited space, often having to shuffle cows in and out for multiple milking shifts each day. The cows had little downtime and the aging buildings became a growing challenge.

In 2019, Judy’s grandson, Sam, proposed exploring robotic milking to prepare for the future. With inspiration from neighbors already successfully using Lely robots, the family visited other farms, talked to fellow dairy producers and followed research-based best practices through the Dairyland Initiative.

While the plan initially involved retrofitting their existing barns, the farm’s location along Duck Creek limited their options. After months of prayer, research and conversation, the family made a bold decision to build a new, state-of-the-art robotic milking facility in a nearby field, while keeping their young stock on the original home farm.

In March 2024, J-Springs Dairy entered a new era as they milked in their tie-stall barn one last time. After that early morning milking, the cows were moved to the new barn and lining up at the robots for their first automated milking within a few hours.

With guidance from their trusted team at Abts Lely Center, supportive neighbors, family and friends, the transition began. It wasn’t without its challenges, with cows needing a little encouragement to step into the robots at first, but within two weeks, milk production increased by 10 lbs./cow.

Today on this century farm, the family milks about 180 cows with three Lely Astronaut A5 robotic milking systems. The new barn has space for dry cows, springing heifers and calving pens. Designed with cow comfort in mind, the barn features a Lely Juno automatic feed pusher and two Lely Luna cow brushes, which the cows line up for. The family also manages 350 acres of owned and rented cropland.

The barn features two L-shaped robots in one pen with a larger fetch pen behind. One of the robot rooms is larger to accommodate tour groups. Across the feed alley is the third robot with a smaller fetch pen, a sand management pen and a dry-off pit close behind.

“The third robot is mostly first lactation cows. Most all the cows adapted very quickly, especially the first lactation girls,” said Tami Ziegler, Judy’s daughter.

“The workload, shared by all of us, is still full-time, but with robots, we have a more flexible schedule, the physical demands are lighter and the cows are more relaxed,” said Tami. "The Lely Horizon management software, along with the unwavering support of our FMS advisor, Krystal, has helped the family master the new technology without feeling overwhelmed.

“Visitors to J-Springs Dairy often comment on how peaceful the cows are and love watching the robots at work,” Tami added. “Our family is proud to share our story with others who are exploring the future of dairy farming.”