With the arrival of spring comes a special moment for many dairy farmers: grazing. The day when the cows go out to pasture again for the first time is a festive moment and also requires careful preparation. CONO dairy farmers Bart Klaver from Hensbroek, Frank Heeman from the Beemster and Gerrit Wermink from Ommen are already busy getting everything ready. From fertilizing the pastures to cordoning off the land: everything must be in order for a successful start to the grazing season.
A fertile start
To provide the cows with a nutritious and healthy pasture, it is important that the grassland is well prepared. Bart Klaver is busy spreading fertilizer: "A good start is half the battle. Last August we already laid a new concrete path which ensures that the cows can reach the land cleanly. The cleaner the cow, the cleaner the grass. By fertilizing on time, I make sure that the grass can grow optimally and the cows can graze in abundance". Klaver also uses a cradle which tills the top layer, removes weeds so that more oxygen can reach the grass. Besides the growth of the grass, fencing is also a major concern. Frank Heeman spends a lot of time installing and checking electric fencing: "It is important to me that the cows can go out to pasture safely. Properly working electric fence is essential and ensures that they stay inside the pasture and don't end up in the ditch."
Bart Klaver from Hensbroek: "I make sure the grass can grow optimally."
Frank Heeman, Beemster: "It's important to me that the cows can go out to pasture safely."
Challenges for livestock producers
While grazing is a great time, cattle farmers are also experiencing challenges during this time. With the abolition of the derogation, some dairy farmers are having to adjust their operations. The government is placing stricter requirements on the amount of livestock manure that can be used to fertilize acres of land, which creates many additional costs and administrative burdens and makes it more complicated for farmers to maintain the balance in their operations as well as grow the right quality of grass.
The first grazing is not only a great moment for the cows, but also for the farmers themselves. Gerrit Wermink looks forward to it every year: "It's like a farmer's holiday. So beautiful to see the cows jump into the field for the first time. That enthusiasm gives energy. With me in Ommen it is usually in mid-April that the time comes, which of course depends heavily on the weather."
Gerrit Wermink from Ommen looks forward to it every year: "It's like a farmer's holiday."
At CONO Cheesemakers, we place great value on outdoor grazing. It fits within our vision of animal-friendly and sustainable dairy farming. Our dairy farmers work according to the Caring Dairy program. This program helps dairy farmers make continuous improvements in the areas of biodiversity, soil health and animal welfare. Thanks to the efforts of our dairy farmers, in 2024 the cows of CONO dairy farmers enjoyed an average of 175 days 10 hours a day of fresh grass in the pasture. This contributes not only to their well-being, but also to the quality of our milk.
Read more about grazing and Caring Dairy? Read more here.