Utah dairies are feeding families and growing smiles, whether it is tasty cheese, delicious ice cream, or a refreshing glass of milk. The Cream Pitcher Dairy in Northern Utah is a thriving family dairy operation providing quality local milk and paving the way for future generations on the farm.
Discover the secrets behind Cream Pitcher Dairy's success and the role of IFA's Feed and Nutrition services.
The History of Cream Pitcher Dairy
Jackson and Oralie Smith merged their own growing dairy herd with Jackson’s father’s in 1996 to found the Cream Pitcher Dairy. At that time, the Smiths were milking 150 head of cows. Today, the dairy operation milks almost 2,000 head of Jersey cattle across three separate locations.
Jackson and two of his nine sons, Wade and Caleb, oversee day-to-day operations of the dairy with the help of their wives and families. Caleb manages the dairy in Lewiston, Utah while Wade has taken on the managing role of the dairy’s Fairview, Idaho location where they milk a portion of the herd and raise most of the calves.
The Smith family enjoys working together on the dairy and getting to share what they love with the people they care about. “It’s great to be with the people I love at work and at play,” says Caleb. As the dairy operation continues to expand, each member of the Smith family plays an important role in keeping things running smoothly.
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Telling the Cream Pitcher Story
Keeping the dairy running is a team effort. Oralie, Wade’s wife, Brycelyn, and Caleb’s wife, Samantha, help by keeping the books and sharing the Cream Pitcher Dairy’s story.
One-way that Oralie helps share their farm story is by hosting farm field days for youth in the area. The kids visit the dairy and get to see firsthand how the dairy operates and what goes into producing the foods they love.
“So many people are removed from agriculture,” Oralie says. “I like working with the kids for farm field days, they love to learn and are so fascinated with how things work.”
Helping youth and community members connect with agriculture is a priority for Oralie. By sharing Cream Pitcher’s story, she hopes to educate others about the importance of agriculture and what all goes into producing a quality product.
Behind the Scenes at Cream Pitcher Dairy: The Importance of Cattle Feed & Nutrition
The Smith family understands that quality milk starts with quality nutrition. The significance of top-notch feed for dairy cows is evident in the premium milk produced at the Cream Pitcher Dairy.
Nutritional Requirements for Dairy Cows
The specific dietary needs of dairy cows play a significant role in milk production and quality. Cream Pitcher Dairy’s animal nutrition needs vary as their cattle move through the production cycle.
At the dairy, a cow’s nutritional needs change as it transitions through early, mid and late lactation, followed by a dry period before going through the cycle again. As the cows progress through different stages of lactation, they experience changes in feed intake and body condition that influence milk yield and quality.
“Making sure we're feeding each cow the right diet helps them be efficient and productive,” says Jared Judy, IFA Nutritionist.
Keeping up with the nutritional needs of Cream Pitcher’s cattle requires adjusting their nutrition as they transition through calving and the stages of lactation. Specialized feed formulas help the dairy’s cows adjust to eating more grain and increase feed intake after they have calved to provide needed energy and protein at important periods in the cycle.
Improving Cattle Health and Feed Intake
Cream Pitcher Dairy’s nutrition programs play an important role in improving the health of each cow as well as improving feed intake. “Feed intake is a really important part of animal nutrition because intake drives production,” Judy says.
Improved feed intake promotes increased milk production and results in better milk components. Cows with a good feed intake are generally healthier, which contributes to both production and cattle longevity.
IFA's Specialized Feed Formulas for Dairy Cows
IFA’s Feed and Nutrition division offers animal nutrition services and products to help dairies like Cream Pitcher improve production and animal health, maximize efficiency, and remain profitable. IFA animal nutrition experts help tailor feed formulas to meet the unique needs of Cream Pitcher Dairy's cows.
“We look for the needs of the dairy specifically because it's about the individual producer,” Judy says.
IFA’s nutrition team analyzes several parameters when evaluating the feed program's effectiveness, but number one is income over feed costs. This involves analyzing how much it costs to feed the animals versus how much money is coming back in return.
“Milk production and milk quality is obviously part of the equation, but income over feed costs is what we're targeting,” Judy says. “The goal is making sure that in the end the producer is making money and they're in the business for a long time to come.”
The Role of IFA's Cattle Nutrition Experts
IFA's team of nutrition experts collaborates with Cream Pitcher Dairy to optimize the health and productivity of their cows. Once a week, IFA nutritionists analyze Cream Pitcher’s nutrition program and make changes to the dairy’s feed formulations as needed.
IFA Feed Sales Consultant, Dave Rallison works closely with the Cream Pitcher Dairy to ensure their animal nutrition needs are being met and to provide knowledge on IFA products that can help improve their production.
“We consult frequently on feed purchasing targets,” Rallison says. “IFA also follows inventories once they purchase the feed to make sure it is the right quality and delivered on time.”
Rallison sees his role as an IFA Feed Sales Consultant as a “conduit” between the farmers and the co-op mills. He strives to build a relationship with his dairy customers and serve as a resource for their operations.
A Matter of Milk Production & Profitability
Although the Smith family has been IFA co-op members and customers for over ten years, they started working with IFA nutritionists on the feed formulations for their Cream Pitcher Dairy cows only last year. IFA’s animal nutrition experts have helped the dairy increase its milk production and quality, which has led to greater profits in its operation.
“From those IFA feed changes, we're up nine pounds of milk and three-quarters of a percent of butter fat,” Jackson says. “That's lots of dollars in our pocket.”
It is no secret that feed and nutrition are a central element of dairy operations and that they directly affect production. However, feed is also the most expensive input. Remaining profitable on the dairy means balancing the cost of feed inputs against increases in production to provide the best overall return.
“We have had to put a little more money into feed costs, but IFA is really good about making sure that there's at least a two-to-one return on every dollar we spend,” Jackson says. Knowing that IFA understands the importance of a balance between production and input costs means that Cream Pitcher Dairy achieves a premium product while remaining profitable.
“The goal of a dairy farm is to always remain profitable,” Rallison says. “Our focus at IFA, where we provide the feed and commodities, is to create an opportunity to buy quality feed at competitive prices to help producers do just that.”
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The Future and Expansion of Cream Pitcher Dairy
Continued profitability allows the Smith family to search for and capitalize on expansion opportunities that will benefit the dairy. Besides growing the herd and milking facilities, Jackson and his family have branched out into farming, trucking, and excavation enterprises.
“Anytime we diversify, we try to diversify in something that will benefit the dairy,” Jackson explains. “We make sure the dairy is the center of the wheel, and then all the spokes are different things that provide benefits.”
Each of these businesses feeds into the dairy to help make it more profitable and efficient. For example, in the past, most of the feed for Cream Pitcher’s cows was purchased, but in recent years, Jackson has merged with a neighbor, Jason Westover, to oversee a farming operation. Now, the dairy owns a couple thousand acres of farm ground that helps produce some of the feed ingredients used in Cream Pitcher's nutrition programs.
Jackson and Oralie have plans to expand further as their younger sons become more involved in the operation. They hope that the Cream Pitcher operation will provide opportunities in agriculture for the family and for generations to come.
“It’s tradition in our family to work hard and it’s a blessing to have a place for all of us to work together every day,” Oralie says.
Keeping up with Advancements in Cattle Feed Technology with IFA
The future holds exciting developments and continued partnership for the Cream Pitcher Dairy and IFA. As the dairy continues to grow, IFA will continue to act as a resource for the Smith family, providing cutting-edge technologies and advancements in animal feed production.
“IFA is a great organization to hitch your wagon to,” Rallison says. “We use a team approach, and everybody gets their heads together to make a productive agricultural enterprise.”
Written by Mikyla Bagley, IFA Content Writer, and originally published in the IFA Cooperator magazine (vol. 90, no. 3) Fall 2024.
Mikyla Bagley is a fifth-generation rancher actively involved in her family’s cattle operation. She holds a deep respect for the wisdom and management practices of the farmers and ranchers who have crossed her path, both because of her family operation and otherwise. A deep desire to remain connected to the agriculture industry drove Mikyla to earn her BIS in Agriculture Science and Communication from Southern Utah University. She continues to be involved in her family’s operation while using her degree and life-long experience as IFA’s Content Specialist sharing the experiences and wisdom of IFA experts and Co-op Members.
“The agriculture community is filled with genuine and hard-working men and women whose passion for their lifestyle deserves to be shared. I look forward to helping highlight both their stories and expertise alongside IFA.”
—Mikyla Bagley