Since February 19 this year, the farm has been selling milk via. Going this route also ensures that the line between farmer and consumer is shorter and that consumers can be reached directly, so this retailer was the logical option for the Oostdam family. One retail option that stood out was online Dutch supermarket. The Oostdam family also wanted to make the right choice when it came to selling their milk. The milk is automatically pasteurised and packaged on-farm. For the production under the concept of Mijn Melk, farmers use an almost fully automated mini-milk factory. Milk from farms is not mixed with other milk. Is a platform where farmers can offer milk directly from the farm, it is fresh milk, straight from the cow into the bottle. The farm wanted to have shorter lines with the retailer and consumer, they became a part of Mijn Melk (‘My Milk’), an umbrella concept that aims to reduce the distance between farmers and consumers. On this farm, the entire milk process takes place on-farm. Shorter lines between farmer and consumer The cows get chocolate powder in their ration to boost energy and milk production. “Welfare is a big issue for us, here we are always thinking of welfare on-farm and how we can make it better for the cows,” says Jorden. “The cows have a better grip when they get up and also it makes it easier for them to stand up,” adds Yvonne. To ensure udder health, better performance and milk production, and lying comfort the farm opted to use deep bedding with recycled organic material which comes from a horse farm, it’s not too dry and it stays cleaner for longer. Yvonne says, “For more cow comfort there are no walls in this barn, the air flows through as the sides are kept open and there is a lot of light that comes in via the roof.” The sides of the barn are only closed during the winter when there is frost, otherwise it remains open during the year. This ventilation system helps to keep them cool.” Not only are the cows at the farm pampered with good ventilation and natural light.

“In the summer when it gets very hot, we have air coming out from the ventilation system which is situated above the cows, the air is blown on the back of the cows.

The barn is relatively new and was built in 2008, keeping welfare of the cows in mind they wanted to have natural light and ventilation.

Yvonne adds that the barn is light and airy with lots of natural light and air flowing through daily. The average production from the Dutch cows leaving the farm is about 32000kg. “We give them a good life and they are bred for longevity.” When the cows leave the farm they have produced about 43000kg milk. “Our cows live about 1 year longer than the average cow in the Netherlands,” Yvonne says proudly. Welfare is a big issue for us, here we are always thinking of welfare on-farm and how we can make it better for the cows,” says Jorden Oostdam.

Mini orbiter 1994