Irish grazing system on education farm

Description

The educational farm from Aeres Hogeschool in the city of Dronten in the Netherlands is a biological farm with a grazing system based on the Irish system: more milk from fresh grass with maximum grazing.

Maximum grazing and more milk from fresh grass is realized trough an intensive grazing management, strip stocking, and a spring calving herd.

Reason for the innovation

The strategy of the farmer is based on more milk from fresh grass with grazing.

  • Achievements: more milk from fresh grass
  • Failures: intensive grassland planning
  • Results: efficient and intensive grazing system, spring calving herd and less costs

Farm description

Environment

  • Soil: Clay
  • 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 red and white clovers

Structure

  • Annual work units (AWU): 1
  • Agricultural Area 37 ha UAA
    • Permanent grassland 37 ha
  • Production method Biological
  • Stock
    • 70 dairy cows
    • 35 young stock
  • Breed Holstein-Friesian

Animal performance

  • Milk production: 7800 kg/year

Why it is working

The innovation is successful on this farm because:

  • it is an education farm with students. The farm/innovation has multiple purposes: a normal economical farming purpose but also a purpose for learning processes. The combined functions create the opportunity to innovate.
  • The curiosity of the farm management and the students to try new methods.
  • The availability of (scientific) knowledge.

Additional information

Farming system

organic farming

Domains of innovation

farm system, grazing management system

Main types of animal

dairy cattle

Country

The Netherlands

Product type

Farmer portrait

Language

English

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Video

Photos

1. Cows grazing. They will soon get a new block.

2. Automatic gate opener.

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