Four-time winners ‘wonderfully surprised’

LYLE, Minn. — Though Roger and Lori Read have won the Brown Swiss Protein Genetic Herd in the category for herds with over 100 cows three times before, when they received notice that they were being honored again, Roger had to read the letter several times to believe it was true.

“It was one of those ‘Oh my goodness’ moments,” Lori said. “How did this happen? It was so unexpected. We were wonderfully surprised.”

Roger and Lori Read milk 125 Brown Swiss cows, along with a few Holsteins and Holstein crosses, on their farm near Lyle. They milk in a double-6 herringbone parlor. They farm with their son, Greg, and his wife, Heather, who are focused on the crop production and non-dairy-focused aspects of the farm.

The Brown Swiss Protein Genetic Herd award, which the Reads won, is based on an algorithm that considers both Dairy Herd Improvement Association component results as well as genetics. The Reads earned the award in 2004, 2018, 2019, and now, 2024. Lori said they were surprised to win the award this year because of the more relaxed approach to the dairy they have taken in recent years as they have gotten closer to retirement. The Reads have been among the top 25% protein herds in the nation for the Brown Swiss breed each year for 20 years.

The Reads have been registering their cattle since they took over the farm in 1989 from Roger’s parents.

“I know people don’t think it’s necessary (to register your cattle), but it has given us so many friends,” Lori said. “The friendships, those have been the most important part.”

The Reads, who have attended over 20 national Brown Swiss conventions, had not originally planned to attend this year’s event in Pennsylvania in June because the date conflicted with hay harvest. However, when they found out they had won the award, Lori said they quickly made plans to attend.

“To receive it in front of good friends that we have made over the years, that’s like icing on the cake,” she said.

The Reads have maintained a Brown Swiss herd because of the components in their milk. The Reads have a 20,000-pound milk rolling herd average with 4.5% fat and 4.0% protein. Their farm has been enrolled in the Farm Business Management program since the late ’80s. Through this Lori said they have looked at dollar return per cow.

“If you look at the energy corrected (milk) dollars for an average Brown Swiss, say she’s milking 23,000 pounds, but she’s putting out 1,200 pounds of fat and 900-1,000 pounds of protein, her dollar value is going to be in that 30,000-pound range,” Lori said.

The Reads feed their herd a total mixed ration with free choice salt and minerals. In the past 10 years they have invested in a robotic feed pusher, which they said has boosted milk. They do not push for production, aiming for 70 pounds milk per day per cow. Last test for DHIA, they had 12 cows over 100 pounds.

Lori said they do not breed for Brown Swiss progressive performance ranking, instead, they look at Net Merit and components more than overall milk production.

“What we found is that Brown Swiss maybe were not breaking the records for the most milk, but they certainly compete when we talk about energy corrected value,” Lori said.

The Reads make all their own genetic choices. Lori looks over the proofs for upcoming Brown Swiss bulls, and together, she and Roger decide what to purchase. Roger mates the animals himself.

“I’m kind of a numbers freak,” Lori said. “I look at all the numbers and see how they’re going to pan out with our herd, what we can expect, their predicted transmitting abilities, things like that.”

Though their animals are sometimes shown, the Reads breed for functional type because their farm is a commercial dairy.

However, the Reads have seen success in the show ring. Currently some of their show genetics are exhibited through a collaboration with Luke and Sarah Olson, Robert and Lana Beckard, and Tanya Wright under the shared prefix Rival Genetics. Their most outstanding cow, CIE Reads Biver Havanna, took third in 2019 as a senior 3-year-old cow at World Dairy Expo and was also Honorable-Mention All-American the same year.

The Reads have genomic tested all their heifers since 2013, adding up to around 650 heifers tested so far. They also have tested 30 bull calves and sent three Brown Swiss bulls to stud.

The Reads support 4-H and youth education, hosting tours of their dairy to over 200 children a year and leasing their cattle to local youth. This year, seven kids will be taking 15 animals to their respective local county fairs.

On the farm, though Greg is not active on the dairy side of things, Lori said he is an important part of their operation.

“We consider Greg our secret weapon,” Lori said. “He’s Roger’s right hand, but he’s more than that. Without him, I don’t think we would still be running the farm … and certainly not milking 125.”

On the dairy Roger is assisted by one full-time employee and two part-time employees. The longest tenured employee has been on the dairy for 15 years.

The Reads are unsure of the future direction of their farm. They have begun breeding the bottom portion of their herd to Braunvieh sires from Switzerland to encourage beef characteristics and develop a beef herd.

“We might not always be milking, so we need to work on something else,” Lori said. “We love the brown cows.”

The Reads’ said there is not a next generation among their children to take over the dairy portion of their enterprises, which they are at peace with. However, their young grandchildren show interest in the dairy, so they are weighing that aspect as well.

“They are so into the cows,” Lori said. “They love having Grandpa here. They love having the cows.”

Over the years the Reads have been active serving in both state and national Brown Swiss breed associations, and colored breed and purebred associations. Roger served as a past national director for the National Brown Swiss Association and both Roger and Lori have been the president of the Minnesota Brown Swiss Association, among other service roles with these and other organizations.

Regardless of whether they continue to dairy or not, the Reads will stay connected to the industry and their registered Brown Swiss breeder friends.

“If this is the last award we ever get, so be it,” Lori said. “We will still go to conventions. … It’s about those friendships and that’s something you don’t lose. You might not have the cows, but you don’t necessarily lose the friendships with retirement.