Description

Practice abstract

Rudi de Wilde and his parents run a dairy farm with 130 dairy cows and young stock in the Netherlands. They combine grazing with automatic milking (GEA), using a 20-hectare grazing platform for this purpose. In addition to the grazing platform, they also have fields for maize and natural grassland. During the grazing season, the cows spend about four to five hours outside each day. They go out in the morning and return to the barn around midday. Bringing the cows back is done with the help of a specially trained dog. By making use of the dog’s natural herding instincts, less physical labour is required, making the process more efficient. The dog — a Border Collie mix — instinctively drives the cows from behind and guides them back to the barn. Rudi only needs to walk with them for a short distance before the dog takes over the work independently. This saves time and effort, and the cows have become fully accustomed to this routine. The system works very well on their farm. 

In general, using a (Border Collie-type) dog to herd cows is a practical and efficient solution. It reduces labour requirements and makes the job easier. By leveraging the dog’s innate instincts, efficiency is improved. However, it is essential that the dog is well trained and properly handled. 

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