GSE Farm Tour!

On September 16, the Aylmer office of GSE was joined by a few St. Thomas office members for a farm tour field trip!  In the morning we toured the W. Luyks Poultry Farm near Port Stanley.  Our hosts, Willy and Anne Luyks, shared a wealth of knowledge from their many years in the farming industry as we explored two pullet barns (where chicks are raised to age 19 weeks), and a layer barn (where eggs are produced).  We also toured a feed mill, where grain and supplements are mixed to exact specifications for the animals’ diet, and viewed several pieces of farm equipment, including a combine harvester, articulated tractor and sprayer.

In the afternoon we visited Crownbrook Farms, a dairy farm near Belmont.  Hosts Andre and Janneke Kroondyk guided our tour around their farm where we saw a bulk milk tank, milking parlour and feed bunkers, along with a herd of 140 milk cows, plus calves and heifers.  We even saw a calf that was born just a couple of hours prior to our arrival!  We learned that the average cow produces 20L -60L per milking (milked twice each day), and that to give the cows extra comfort, they use sand instead of straw for bedding.  We also enjoyed a sampling of cheddar cheeses and chocolate milk at the conclusion of our tour!

A special thank you to our farm hosts for their kind hospitality and taking the time to let us tour their farms!

Please view the photos in the link below.

GSE Farm Tour Photos