The André Hoeve opened its new sustainable cubicle barn on September 3. This 'CONO barn' was designed after the example of CONO Kaasmakers' cheese factory in the Beemster and meets all the requirements for sustainable livestock farming.
The CONO barn
The André Hoeve in Spierdijk of CONO dairy farmers André, Jolanda and Stan Schilder is the first to have the first CONO barn. The design of the cheese dairy of CONO Kaasmakers, is the model for the CONO barn: energy efficient, responsible materials, transparent and fitted into the landscape. What's more, the barn is energy-positive.
Wim Betten, general director of CONO Kaasmakers: "We are extremely proud of this. CONO has a clear philosophy: you have to live up to sustainability first, throughout the chain, before you can put the label 'sustainable' on a cheese. The CONO stable is a beautiful proof of our story about real attention to people, animals and the environment. The CONO stable strengthens the connection between farmer and citizen. This is badly needed, because we want to let people know much more how well our cattle farmers care for their cows. This is also laid down in our Caring Dairy sustainability program. Of course, with the CONO barn, we hope to inspire more dairy farmers to adopt this sustainable method of barn construction."
Friendly barn for animals, environment and surroundings
The barn was built to the highest animal welfare standard with plenty of comfort, light and space for the cows The dense, low-emission floor is also suitable for the mono-dung digester that converts manure into heat and electricity. So much, in fact, that it is sufficient for the entire farm as well as the adjacent residential area. The excess electricity production also benefits CONO's cheese factory. Capturing and using the manure directly has another advantage. The greenhouse gas methane is not released into the air from the manure storage. The dimensions of the CONO barn can be flexibly adjusted for each livestock farm. Thus, it can be precisely tailored to the landscape and business operations of the entrepreneur.
The reception area is a permanent part of the CONO stable concept. Painter uses and rents their 'skybox' for, among other things, (farm) education, exams of the people of the care farm and the event agency Fun by André Hoeve of the two oldest daughters. In this way, the CONO stable is at the center of society and the André Hoeve involves citizens in their operations.
Ready for the future
Jolanda Schilder: "Because of the steady growth of our business and the certainty that with our son Stan the sixth generation of dairy farmers is ready, we had drawn up a plan for a new barn. That plan quickly gave way to the special design of the CONO barn. This way of farming fits exactly with our own ideas: quality, sustainable, honest and real."
The CONO stable, a friendly stable for animals, environment and surroundings, was made possible in part thanks to a contribution from the Rural Development Program: "Europe invests in its countryside" and the province of North Holland. There was also advice from CONO Kaasmakers. André Schilder: "We consulted with each other a great deal. Frank Verhoeven, owner of the consultancy Boerenverstand, had a complete design made together with the (landscape) architect, inspired by the design of the CONO cheese factory. Great that with a combination of our own money, the POP3 subsidy and free advice and assistance from CONO we were able to realize the first CONO barn!