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Roughage tour Frank Rooker

'When you graze, you also have to get the most out of it'

23 April 2021 - Erik van der Deure

De Boerenbusiness Roughage Tour follows 10 plots of maize and grass spread across the Netherlands this year. Every week we ask 1 of the participating dairy farmers about his vision and approach for this growing season. This week it is Frank Rooker, he runs a dairy farm in Aartswoud (North Holland) together with his brother and father.

Frank Rooker

Place: Aartswoud (North Holland)

Surface company:
74 hectares of grassland
16,5 hectares of corn
13 hectares of management of the North Holland landscape
Rent out 11 hectares for tulips

Soil type: Sablon soil 20% siltable

Livestock: 200 dairy cows & 90 young cattle

Production: 10.900kg 4,33% fat 3,67% protein 

ration: Grass silage, maize silage, straw, dried grass, soya, soda grain, wheat kernel chunks & potato press fibers 

Current variety choice
Grass: HAVERA 4
But: Asgaard

The growing season is underway, how is the plot doing?
“I am more than happy with how the plots are looking. We have not had any problems with wetness and there is no question of drought now."

''Last Monday (week 16) the maize land was fertilized with 40 m3 of cattle slurry. The plots are rotted and ready to be sown. Despite the cold and low soil temperature (+-10 degrees), the seed does not go in much later than normal. For now we just have to wait until it gets warmer.'

What will your strategy be this year?
''We grow enough roughage all year round, which is why quality takes precedence over quantity. We try to grow the roughage that is grown in an arable manner. The highest possible quality protein is therefore the aim every year. We ensile the first cut in around 43% dry matter, so as not to get the protein too unstable in the silage."

''The goal for the coming years is to make even better use of the cows' production potential. We milk with 3 milking robots and want to use this capacity as efficiently as possible, in combination with grazing. I don't know if I'm really a fanatic grazer. But I am aware that when you graze, you also have to get the most out of it. Last year, for example, we covered the 170 days of pastures and were able to keep the milk production and levels well below. We put a lot of time into it, but it shouldn't come at the expense of everything."

Another important factor is the choice of variety, which varieties do you grow?
''By choosing the maize varieties, we are opting for a very early variety, and the Asgaard lends itself perfectly for that. We do not necessarily go for the highest yield, as long as the quality is high. We choose the HAVERA 4 mixture because of its suitability for both mowing and grazing. Its high productivity in combination with palatability makes it the ideal mixture for us. White and red clover has also been added to the Roughage Tour plot. The combination between white and red is good and they know how to keep the clover stock nicely on the arrow. This is partly due to the red clover which itself is somewhat stronger. Due to the clover share, we can adjust the fertilizer dose somewhat lower later in the year."

What is the reason that you participate in the Roughage Tour and what do you expect from it?
''Broadening knowledge and learning from others are the main reasons I participate. I also like to see how things are going elsewhere.”

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