During the open day at family Ruijter-Masteling on November 6, the focus was on innovation. The Noord-Holland dairy farmers combine craftsmanship with modern technology and shared their experiences with the Lely Vector automatic feeding system. Their story shows how smart solutions contribute to peace, efficiency and good feed for healthy cows.

The family runs a modern dairy farm in Burgerbrug with 185 dairy cows and young stock and has been a member of cooperative CONO for over 33 years. When their old feed wagon and feeding barn wore out, they decided to invest in a new feeding barn with an automatic feeding system.

More peace of mind and flexibility

"The biggest advantage is that it takes less labor and works flexibly," says Joost Ruijter. "The feed can be prepared in advance, so you can arrange it yourself. Our cows now get fresh feed 10 to 12 times a day, pushed on every hour. That's better for their health and production." Together with his father and one regular employee, Joost keeps track with the Horizon app, which allows them to track exactly what is being fed and how the intake is going. "The system thinks with you and gives immediate insight in case of deviations. That gives peace of mind and a grip on the ration," says Joost.

 Smart farming with data

The switch to automatic feeding came naturally: "Our old mixer was too small and worn out, and we were working on a new feeding shed with solar panels anyway," Joost explains. Kees Ruijter adds, "During grazing, the system automatically adjusts the feed quantity. So there is never too much or too little, and the quality remains excellent."

Although they still milk traditionally, they do not rule out further automation. "When you see how well the system works, you automatically start looking at the future differently," says Kees.

 Moving forward together

CONO was also present at the open day. Manager Livestock Affairs Mark Paauw: "The Ruijter family shows how innovation and craftsmanship can go hand in hand. Automatic feeding helps them work more efficiently, with an eye for animals and milk. That suits our cooperative perfectly." "Technology doesn't replace us, it supports us," Joost concludes. "We have more overview, more peace of mind, and ultimately better feed for our cows."