In my small area of PA 30 years ago there were at least 25-30 small dairies within a 10 mile radius (no mennonites). The biggest ones were right around 80-100 cows. Now that number is less than half. The guys that are left are either into elite genetics, running on fumes, are bottling their own, or have gone to a grazing based approach. The 2 guys I am friends with dairied for decades conventionally (confinement barns, hauling feed in and manure out), lame cows, big vet bills, poor conception rates, etc. and about 10 years ago went to intensive grazing. High-end, fragile Holstein genetics out, very hearty jersey-cross muts in. They're making far less milk, but more profit. No silos to fill, very little manure to haul, less machinery to eat up your margins, just single wire electric fences and a bunch of water troughs. The guys were ridiculed by everyone (including those who have since sold their cows), but they tell me they would NEVER go back to the way they did it before. Their herds are seasonal (dry off around Christmas), right around 100 cows (more head than their previous conventional herds), winter outside (yes, no barn), calve over a 2 month period in the spring when the grass comes on, and calves are left on momma for colostrum and housed in group pens.
Both of these guys will admit that this system is less physical work, but far more management intensive than one would think. A lot of science in when to move cows, what grasses to grow, when to feed hay, etc. Sorry bit off topic of the original post, but your mention of small dairies reminded me of this.
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