'Extraction policy for group stables is the biggest shame'

Dairy farmers have different business situations. In this series, a number of them explain how they view the elaboration of current legislation and regulations, and how they intend to deal with this in their business operations in the coming years. This time the word is given to the dairy farmer, with group stable, Harmen Endendijk (40) from Ermelo.

How has your company developed in recent years?
"We milk between 50 and 60 cows in the group barn. That number has been stable for years. The company has 5 hectares of land, 10 hectares are at a distance. The dry cows and young stock graze on the house plot in the summer, the dairy cows stay up. stable."

How do you view the ban on the expansion and new construction of group and attachment stables?
"First of all, I find the communication confusing. I read that it would be an NZO-widely supported decision, but only FrieslandCampina has come forward with it. For example, I have not heard anything from Nemelco, the factory we supply to. although I have nothing good to say about it. It is the biggest gibberish of the year. We get a lot and often citizens in the stable. They all think it is wonderful, yes all of them, how the cows here are calm, clean and satisfied fat FrieslandCampina claims that it is society and customers that ask critical questions about cows in group barns, but I don't believe in that. I think they are listening to animal activists such as Wakker Dier."

Do you not share the view that limited freedom of movement is bad for the cow and for its image?
"Certainly not. I turn it the other way around: if the dairy is all about the image, they choose to promote the group barn. Take hoof health, for example. This is a major problem in free stall barns, especially due to Mortellaro's disease. Farmers with group stables are not aware of this condition at all. How many cows walk around in a cubicle for fun? None of them. A cow eats and gets her water where it is offered. If you give her a wheelbarrow of tasty feed in the meadow, she walks They really do not go further into the meadow. In addition, farmyard manure is the best manure for the land, in relation to meadow birds. And no ammonia is formed in the group barn. Also, on average, group barn farmers graze their livestock much more and more often than free stall barn farmers and "mega-group barns do not exist. In terms of sustainability requirements, group barn farmers are much further ahead. As I said: the dairy should promote this barn system."

So time for action?
"Myself and my colleagues are certainly thinking about it, but we are not there yet. It hits us raw. And besides, who are you fighting? Against your own processor or cooperative. It has almost come to the point where FrieslandCampina for the government and Qlip is the AID. LTO, they should take action. But I haven't heard anything about it yet. While hundreds of their members are affected by this. Incomprehensible, as if this group are second-rate members."

If these proposals go through, how will that affect your business in 5 years' time?
"In principle I don't have any expansion plans. But if that somehow plays a role, I may have to find another buyer for my milk. A small player that is not a member of the NZO. Or process all the milk into cheese myself. Maybe together with colleagues. If I become cynical, I think of starting such a concept under a brand name such as 'Milk van de Grup' or 'Milk without Mortellarro'. Going with a free stall barn is not going to work anyway. That's for sure."

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