Feb 23, 2006 — "Closed herds", like the cows on Bob Andrews' farm, are in a minority in the North Country. Lots of dairy farmers are buying and selling cows at auctions, picking up replacement heifers as their milkers age. Farms, like ones in Hopkinton and Madrid, have entire operations based on raising calves until they're ready to produce milk. David Sommerstein spoke with Joseph te Riele, a dairy farmer in Canton. He says a growing number of farmers send their calves to other farms after they're born.