Description
The farm from the family van Eijden is located in the northern part of the Netherlands, in the province Friesland. The last decades the herd has gradual grown to 500 dairy cows. Despite the large herd (from Dutch perspective) the cows are still grazing.
Grazing is self-evident for the farmer and the pillar of his farm management. The motivation of the grazing is based on the economic benefits (low costs) and the simplicity.
Reason for the innovation
Grazing is the pillar of the farm and the size of the herd is irrelevant according the farmer.
- Achievements: despite growth to a large herd still successfully grazing
- Constraints: trampling the ground
- Results: simplicity in the farm management and low costs, high profit
Farm description
Environment
- Soil: Sandy-loam, peat
- Climate: Temperate oceanic
- Altitude: ±sea level
- Slope: flat
Grassland management
- Grazing: Yes
- Grazing management: Rotational
- Length of grazing period: 4 months/year
- Main composition grassland: Perennial ryegrass and red and white clovers
Structure
- Annual work units (AWU): 4
- Agricultural Area 200 ha UAA
- Permanent grassland 150 ha
- Temporary grassland 25 ha
- Corn silage 25 ha
- Production method: Conventional
- Stock
- 500 dairy cows
- 250 young stock
- Breed Holstein-Friesian
Animal performance
- Milk production: 7725 kg/year
Why it is working
The innovation is successful on this farm because:
- the farmer is focussed on the economic result and not on the highest milk production.
- more than 100 hectares is located direct around the stable and suitable for grazing.
