Dairy cattle family Meijer from Geesteren wins prize from feed supplier ForFarmers, prize money goes to KiKa | Vee-en-Gewas.nl

‘Milk production increased by an average of 0.8 kg per cow per day (to a milk production of 10,140 kg) and the contents even increased by 0.04 percent fat and 0.02 percent protein (to 4.40 percent fat and 3.61 percent protein)’, writes ForFarmers. ‘This resulted in an increase of 56 kg of fat and protein per cow per year. A top performance with which Dairy Farm Meijer wins the Agroscoopbocal Dairy Cattle 2024.’

ForFarmers can derive the figures because the company participates in a digital monitoring program of ForFarmers and Reudink that allows livestock farmers to monitor their technical and financial figures at any time. In addition, it is possible to compare your own technical results with those of fellow livestock farmers. “We aim for a healthy herd with a high average age. Preventing problems was already important, but has become extra important with the arrival of the milking robots,” says Hans Meijer. “We work according to fixed protocols, with fixed days for trimming and drying. We also have fixed times for daily stable work.”

Future

The dairy farmers switched from the milking parlor to two milking robots in June 2023. “I am quite proud of what we have achieved here,” says Hans, who also thinks carefully about the future of the company when making choices. He is also proud that Joost wants to continue the company in the future. Together they enjoy discussing options to further develop the company. “It is important that you remain open to new developments and continue to see the challenge so that the young generation can also experience a lot of job satisfaction in our beautiful sector,” says Hans, to which Joost responds: “That suits me well.”

The successor says: “One of the most important things we have worked on last year is transition management. The dry cows receive a separate dry period ration and we feed a pellet with a calcium binder in the last weeks before calving. As a result, the cows start better and there are hardly any health problems. The colostrum quality has also improved greatly and that ensures a strong start for our calves.”

Grazing

The company also uses summer stable feeding and grazing. “We try to tailor the grazing schedule and times as closely as possible to the natural grazing behavior of the cow. This way we avoid the hottest time of the day to prevent heat stress.”