Join host Kimmi Devaney as she chats with Jason Shamburg and Nic Schoenberger, founders and managing partners of Kansas Dairy Development (KDD), about raising dairy replacements and leading a dynamic, high-caliber team.
KDD is a calf ranch and heifer-raising facility based in Deerfield, Kansas, that raises youngstock for dairy clients in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming. They also operate a calf depot in Wisconsin.
Progression of calves and heifers at KDD:
- KDD receives calves at 2 to 3 days of age on average, and calves spend approximately 90 days in bedded hutches with a wire paneled outdoor area.
- After 90 days, calves are moved into transition barns for approximately 60 days. The transition barns range in size from 480’- 660’ in length with individual pens that are 30’ wide by 90’ deep with a 35’ deep roof structure at the back of the pen. Pens are well drained and bedded seasonally with a curtain at the north end of the barn that can be raised and lowered seasonally as conditions require.
- Calves move to group pens at 150 days of age, which have a significant shade and windbreak structure. Both the group pens and transition barns are bedded heavily to the conditions and needs of the animals throughout the year.
- At 180-200 days of age, animals are moved to more traditional open lot pens where they will continue to grow until they are moved into the breeding area at approximately 350 days of age.
- Heifers will be bred according to their voluntary waiting period (VWP) and grown to eventually head back to their respective home dairy at 210 days carrying calf (DCC) on average).
Episode breakdown:
- [~1:10] How KDD and the partnership between Shamburg and Schoenberger came together about a decade ago
- [~2:15] About their calf depot
- [~4:30] Seasonal management differences, including bedding year round
- [~7:20] Heifer breeding program
- [~8:30] Data management
- [~12:45] Overview of calf ranch and heifer development programs
- [~13:40] Their client base and how they built those relationships over the last decades
- [~16:20] Biosecurity
- [~19:25] Keys to successfully raising heifers
- [~23:40] How their core values help to shape their team culture
- [~31:00] Qualities they look for in new employees
- [~33:05] Keeping employees motivated and engaged
- [~35:30] The greatest lessons Shamburg and Schoenberger have learned about leading a high-caliber team
- [~37:45] Schoenberger was recognized by the Holstein Foundation with the 2026 Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) Distinguished Alumni Leader Award
- [~39:00] Schoenberger’s message for current the YDLI class and what he hopes they gain from their experience
- [~41:40] Rapid-fire questions
