Description
The farm from Twan Linssen is located in the southern part of the Netherlands, in the province Limburg. His 80 dairy cows are fully grass fed by grazing and hay. In the winter time the complete ration consists of hay.
Twan Linssen got the opportunity to built a complete new cowshed. The build-ing is specially designed for the hay ration. Inside the cowshed is an installation to dry the grass and two big storages for the hay. The installation works with hot air collected underneath the roof. A special crane on a railing system connected to the top of the building is used for moving the grass into the dryer and to feed the hay to the cows.
Reason for the innovation
The farmer is really convinced about the positive effect of hay on the health of cows and the quality of the milk. The relocation of the farm gave the opportunity to built a cowshed based on a hay ration.
The used system for drying the hay has proven itself in Austria.
Farm description
Environment
- Soil: Sand (15 ha), Clay (77 ha)
- 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: Perennial ryegrass and clovers
Structure
- Annual work units (AWU): 1
- Agricultural Area 95 ha UAA
- Permanent grassland 87 ha
- Other forage 8 ha
- Production method: Organic
- Stock
- 80 dairy cows
- 50 young stock
- Breed Holstein-Friesian crossed with Fleckvieh
Animal performance
- Milk production: 7000 kg/year
Why it is working
The innovation is successful on this farm because:
- the farmer’s conviction of the positive effect of feeding hay.
- the relocation of the farm.
- the system for drying and feeding the hay has proven itself before in Austria.
