'Growing in cows is just more of the same'

A golf course on a dairy farm was a bold step, but it turned out to be a good move, according to Alfred Brinks. He was missing something at his company and wanted to do something on the side. Increasing the number of cows was also an option, but he thought that was more of the same. The activities at the organic dairy farm in Holsloot in Drenthe have now been considerably expanded and broadened, but the cows always come first. With applying it Pure Graze System and milking three times a day, the company is unique in several respects. 

Farm 'Het Landschap' of the Brinks family is known as a farmer's golf course and organic dairy farm, but with a wide range of activities it is much more than that. There are also the 'Farmers' Olympics' (team building games) and rooms are rented for meetings and parties. In addition, the 'farmer and farmer's wife' course is given. The dairy farm has approximately 140 cows. It is a spring calving herd that runs outdoors all year round and is fed as much fresh grass as possible. 

Bold move
The widening with the golf course was started in 2006, Alfred tells us when we sit at his kitchen table. He worked on the farm with his parents and brother and thought about what the next step could be for the company. "After HAS I became a dairy farmer and came to the farm. I walked around the house all day, but I missed something. Growing the number of cows could have been possible, but that is more of the same." Then he read something about Boerengolf in the magazine Landleven. "That got me thinking and I got excited. The rest weren't really in favor of it at first, but in the end we pushed through with this idea." 

Once I took the step, it turned out to be a good move. "When people walked through the meadow with their golf club (stick with a clog), my parents were thrilled. The visitors also really enjoyed it." At that time, 135 cows were being milked and the company was not yet organic. After both his parents became ill within a short period of time, the expansion branch and dairy farming became too much work for the Brinks family. "Something had to change, because in terms of time this was simply not feasible for us. We also discovered that growing in size, or more liters per cow, does not necessarily make us happy. In addition, we have never had an investment so quickly. The return was certainly not enormous. Of course, it also took quite a bit of time, but we really had fun with it." For that reason, it was decided to continue with the expansion branch and the dairy herd decreased somewhat in size from 2010 onwards. His brother remained in partnership with him.

Pure Graze System 
The company also switched to the so-called that year Pure Graze System, which means completely grass fed. They came across this by chance through a project. Characteristics of this system are a lower cost price due to labor savings, whereby cows convert as much fresh grass as possible directly into milk. Its own milk flow through it Pure Graze System however, was not possible. "This was exactly what we were looking for, less intensive and less dependent on labor. In addition, our cows are outside all year round. We also only do spring calves. This way the whole picture was right and we could combine it well with the expansion branch. If spring calving is in April is over, then the farmer's golf season starts again." In 2017, Alfred and his brother's partnership then became organic. 

Parties and milk tap
"After that, things went from bad to worse with the expansion branch, in the positive sense of the word," Alfred laughs. Various activities were added. Frisbee golf, for example. Just like team building games, or 'Farmers' Lympics'. We also started renting out spaces for meetings or parties, with or without a sporting activity. Children's parties are also available. This also explains the fleet of pedal tractors for children that you see in the yard when you drive up. The colors from John Deere to New Holland are listed there, with or without a cart. "In principle, a lot is possible here. You can also go your own way at a party. 'And if you have any questions, just call,' I always say." There is also a milk tap and meat and cheeses from the company's own company are sold. 

The activities also include the 'farmer and farmer's wife' course. "Depending on the group size and age, a program is ready and we do various activities on the farm, such as feeding and milking calves." At the end there is a quiz and afterwards a diploma should of course not be missing, Alfred explains. "Then you really notice that farm life comes to life for people." 

Milking three times a day
All in all, the widening branch takes quite some time. Alfred himself still milks an average of six times a week. The other milkings are done by a group of permanent milkers. On the farm, the cows are milked three times a day. "With this, I achieve up to 15% more milk yield compared to twice a day. With that extra yield, I then pay the milkers again. This way I can focus on the widening branch in the afternoon and evening." He also employs two separate workers for the expansion and his wife and mother-in-law also help out partly.  

Although he spends less time in the milking parlour, Alfred feels like a farmer through and through. The cows are his absolute priority and can continue to do their thing through the chosen farming system. He doesn't feel like following them around all day and seeing if things are going well. "In this way I have a lot of fun with my work. In addition, the contact with people makes me happy. Ultimately, it is the total picture that matters."  

Perfect picture
There are no concrete plans or major changes for the future, but the company is doing anything but standing still. This became clear again last summer when some cows suddenly arrived. We had been thinking for some time about what else was possible at the company. "Then I happened to read a message about cattle for sale. It suited us perfectly, because these cows were 100% grass-fed. I thought, this is just right for us. And so I bought them two weeks later , while at first there were no concrete plans for this. This is what I mean by: it has to fit into the picture." 

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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