Description
The farmer designed step by step a farm production system in which cows health and welfare is a priority. The system is distinguished by the following features:
- There is stable in the central part of the pastureland.
- There are artificial ponds (they are fed with water from drilled wells 30 m deep).
- Grasslands are irrigated and renovated every year.
- Elements of the natural landscape has been preserved (i.e. forest enclaves, clumps of trees).
- Heifers can choose if they want to go outside or stay in the stable.
- Dairy cows can walk on a pasture as far as they want, sometimes they walk 5-6 km per day, even though they have enough grass near the stable, where they could stay for some hours (the size of the paddock is about 30 ha).
Reason for the innovation
The aim of the farmer is to have healthy cows that produce high-quality milk necessary for the processing plant located on the farm. In Poland, dairy cows are usually loose housed for the whole year. The presented farm is a large-scale farm, where grazing is still practised. Maize has never been cultivated on that farm and given to any cow. The first Polish farmer who started processing milk into dairy products at the farm level and selling them under his own brand. The farm website is: www.ekonabial.pl.
Farm description
Environment
- Soil types: Clayey-loam, Sandy
- Climate: Warm-summer humid continental
- Altitude: 160 m a.s.l.
- Slope: 0%
Grassland management
- Grazing management type: Rotational stocking
- The sward is concerved by making silage and haylage.
Structure
- Annual Work Unit: 15
- Agricultural Area: 400 ha UAA
- Permanent grassland area: 10 ha
- Temporary grassland area: 290 ha
- Other forage area: 100 ha
- Average stocking rates:
- agriculture area 0.7 LU/ha
- main forage area 0.7 LU/ha
- grassland area 0.9 LU/ha
Animal performance
- Dairy cows: 200
- Breeds Simental
- Total livestock units: 288.7 LU
- Milk production per head: 6500 (l/year)
Why it is working
The farmer adjusted dairy production to local agro-climatic conditions.
