“There’s very few things that I come across that I believe this strongly in. It’s definitely changed our game on our dry treatment protocol.”

That’s how Eric Bleich, owner of Bleich Family Farms in Hudson, Michigan, summarizes his experience with AHV StopLac. Managing a 1,000-cow dairy herd requires efficiency, consistency, and animal comfort—especially during dry-off. Since introducing StopLac into his dry cow program, Eric has seen a clear and measurable difference.

About Bleich Family Farms

Bleich Family Farms is a progressive dairy operation located in Hudson, Michigan, milking approximately 1,000 cows through the parlor. Like many high-producing herds, dry-off management has always been a critical point in their production cycle—impacting cow comfort, labor efficiency, udder health, and overall herd performance.

Rethinking Traditional Dry Cow Therapy

Before switching to StopLac, Bleich Family Farms followed a conventional dry-off protocol using:

• Intramammary dry cow treatment
• Teat sealants
• Multiple handling steps in the parlor

This approach was labor-intensive and left room for protocol deviations, which occasionally resulted in health issues.

“We did have some lapses in protocols in the parlor with the dry treat system that ended in some problems with cow health. That was another motivation for us to do something different.”

Eric was particularly interested in the concept behind StopLac: naturally slowing down milk production in high-producing cows at dry-off, reducing udder pressure and stress.

Side-by-Side Comparison: StopLac vs. Conventional Dry-Off

To make a data-driven decision, the farm ran a half-and-half trial:

• 50% of dry cows received AHV StopLac boluses
• 50% followed the traditional dry cow treatment protocol
• Trial duration: approximately three weeks

The results were immediate—and striking.

“My herdsmen videotaped the differences of the cows in the barn, and it was just night and day.”

Cow Comfort After Dry-Off

StopLac cows

Behavior similar to cows dried off several days earlier

Conventionally dried cows

Attempting to return to the parlor

“The cows that received the bolus were literally laying down, chewing their cud… The cows that did not receive the bolus were up walking around with udders because they wanted to move back to the parlor.”

Labor Efficiency: A Simpler Dry-Off Process

One of the most impactful changes was labor reduction.

With conventional dry cow therapy:

• Up to six people in the parlor
• Multiple sanitation and administration steps
• High labor intensity and time pressure

With AHV StopLac:

• Only a couple of people
• Cows handled through the palpation rail
• Simple bolus administration

“The ease of the bolus has eliminated running those cows back through the parlor for dry off.”

Importantly, the team responsible for administering the boluses reported no issues or complaints with the process.

Herd Health, Production, and SCC Results

While Eric emphasizes that cow comfort and ease of use were the first noticeable benefits, herd performance followed.

• Somatic Cell Count (SCC):
  • Stable to slightly improved
  • “If anything, softened—gone down.”
• Milk Production:
  • Overall herd production increased
  • Sustained performance above 90 pounds
• Components:
  • Strong and consistent

“We know our herd is strong. Our components are excellent.”

Although Eric hasn’t broken the results down to a per-cow analysis, the whole-herd trend is clearly positive.

Cost Comparison: Surprisingly Even

When comparing total costs, Eric found that StopLac is roughly cost-neutral versus conventional dry cow therapy.

“When I compared the bolus with the labor cost, the dry treat cost, the sealant cost—it’s about dead even, honestly.”

And that calculation does not include:

• Potential health issues from dry cow treatments
• Costs related to protocol errors
• Additional labor and handling stress

Why Eric Recommends Trying AHV StopLac

Eric’s advice to fellow dairy farmers is simple and practical:

“What do you got to lose by trying half and half? Watch your own herd, watch your own cows, see your own difference.”

Since implementing StopLac, Eric has shared his experience with numerous producers—many of whom have since adopted the program themselves.

“There’s very few things that I come across that I believe this strongly in. It’s definitely changed our game on our dry treatment protocol.”

AHV StopLac: A New Standard in Dry Cow Management

Eric Bleich’s experience highlights what many dairy producers are looking for today:

• Improved cow comfort at dry-off
• Reduced labor and handling
• Consistent udder health and performance
• A practical, farm-proven alternative to traditional dry cow therapy

For Bleich Family Farms, AHV StopLac isn’t just a product—it’s a better way to manage dry cows.

AHV STOPLAC