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  • Van der Meulen Dairy >  Elevating herd components with Dutch genetics

    Van der Meulen Dairy > Elevating herd components with Dutch genetics

    In the heart of Alma, Ontario, Jen and Theo Van der Meulen, the proud owners of Van der Meulen Dairy, are on a mission to enhance their herd's genetic foundation. With a focus on quality over quantity, the herd of 315 cows produces an impressive average of 35 liters per day, boasting 4.40% fat and 3.45% protein.
  • Farm consultant and dairy farmer Niels Achten about feed efficiency: “The economic importance of feed efficiency is steadily growing”

    Farm consultant and dairy farmer Niels Achten about feed efficiency: “The economic importance of feed efficiency is steadily growing”

    As a strategic and technical farm consultant, almost every day Niels Achten speaks with dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Flanders about ways of optimising their farm management. Niels works at consultancy firm Liba and, along with his parents, operates a dairy with 280 cows. He can therefore directly link the numbers on paper to his own practical experience.
  • North Harbor Dairy Farm: Focus on feed efficiency components together with CRV

    North Harbor Dairy Farm: Focus on feed efficiency components together with CRV

    “We have always been a detail-oriented, high-production dairy. But we have always struggled with components. I made the CRV jump because we wanted to focus on components. We saw the value of components and we knew it was going to continue to increase," says Brian Robbins, owner of the 1,200-cow herd North Harbor Dairy Farm in Sackets Harbor, New York. With the help of CRV Sales Representative Tim Fargo, Brian adapted a new breeding strategy. "Nowadays I don't get too involved in it. I told Tim what I was looking for, eight or nine years ago. He has done very well. So, I don't really ask a lot of questions," Brian Robbins says.
  • Grootendorst Farms; Always looking for more commercial cows

    Grootendorst Farms; Always looking for more commercial cows

    Grootendorst Farms, located in Maryhill, Ontario, Canada, is owned and operated by brothers Henk and Ary Grootendorst. They farm 1000 acres, and milk 600 cows 3 times a day in a double 16 herringbone parlor. The immaculately kept farm produces 11,800 kg milk, with 4.33% fat, and 3.38% protein.
  • Dutch dairy farmer Willem Alders: “Differences in feed efficiency are very interesting from a financial perspective”

    Dutch dairy farmer Willem Alders: “Differences in feed efficiency are very interesting from a financial perspective”

    For Dutch dairy farmer Willem Alders, the feed balance (milk income minus feed costs) is an important economic index. The results of six years of measuring the feed intake of individual cows for CRV opened his eyes to the differences between cows. “The animals with the lowest scores make little or no contribution to the total feed balance, whilst the animals with the best scores produce even more than expected,” he concludes.