Roden Echo Valley is a family farm. They own 315 ha of land and rent 585 ha. For 15 years they have enlarged their herd from 70 to 700 cows, using only own replacement heifers. Now stuff of the farm contains of 5 dairymen, some of them — are relatives. The farm-owner is engaged in crop production, his son is responsible for the herd, the wife takes care of the calves. For harvesting they hire seasonal workers.

On the platform for growing calf of pre-weaning period they built 7 sheds each of 6 m width, length is 19 m, containing 16 huts (Calf-Tel). Each shed is equipped with adjustable front curtain. 16 calves born here during two weeks — fill one shed.

Calves are kept in individual huts for 8 weeks. Then huts are knocked down and a fence with headlocks is put. Calves are kept there for 3-4 weeks in groups. All together 10-12 weeks. The main principle: move the equipment, not animals.

Calves are fed with whole pasteurized milk from individual bottles. It is pumped from milking parlour to dairy kitchen by underground pipeline. To save water, bottles and nipples are washed in the dishwasher.

At the age of three months, calves are transferred to other places. After that, under the shed a complete disinfection is made and washed disinfected huts are installed, where new-born calves are transferred.

The average milk yield is 10442 kg/year/cow (protein — 3.4%, fat content — 4.1%). Cows are milked twice per day in Herringbone milking parlour 8×2.

All forages are self-made. Portion of wheat, soybeans and corn are sold.

Only milking cows (except fresh cows) are kept in low-profile barn with cross ventilation. It is designed for 450 heads of cows. There is no odour in the barn, the air is fresh and cows are clean. About 90% of the animals are lying and ruminating.

For bedding they use separated solid fraction of manure mixed with waste paper production and lime.

Depending on lactation period cows are grouped in several groups (fresh cows, milking out, late lactation), they separate first-calf cow and older cows. There is a separate ration for each group with the slight differences.