Description
The biological dynamic farm from the family Deinum is located in the northern part of the Netherlands, in the province Friesland. The dairy and beef cows are grazing on grassland with a grass/herbs mixture, for positive effect on animal health, soil health and biodiversity.
The farm works with herb rich grassland for a long time. Since three years the farm works completely biodynamic. Not using antibiotics and no artificial fertilizer requires even more a well balanced grassland with herbs to keep the cows and the soil healthy.
Reason for the innovation
Every three year the farmer checks on the grassland composition. The farmer sows the new seeds early in the year with a machine for fine seeds. After that the cows spread the seeds into the soil when they graze the pasture.
The real challenge for this farmer is to develop self sowing grassland. The only tool to manage this self sowing herb-rich grassland is his cows and wire/fences.
Farm description
Environment
- Soil: Clay on sand
- Climate: Temperate oceanic
- Altitude: ±sea level
- Slope: flat
Grassland management
- Grazing: Yes
- Grazing management: Strip stocking
- Length of grazing period: 8 months/year
- Main composition grassland: A broad range of different grass and legume species; Perennial ryegrass, rough meadow-grass, quackgrass, timothy-grass, meadow fescue, meadow ryegrass
Structure
- Agricultural Area 133 ha UAA
- Permanent grassland 97 ha
- Nature 36 ha
- Production method: Biological dynamic
- Stock
- 160 dairy cows,
- 75 young stock
- 35 beef cows
- 67 young stock
- Breed
- Holstein-Friesian (dairy)
- Hereford (beef)
Animal performance
- Milk production: 5800 kg/year
Why it is working
The innovation is successful on this farm because:
- the biological dynamic farm management.
- herb-rich grassland helps to keep the cows and soil healthy.
