Roughage tour Jan Henk Waterink
'I like to experiment with grass and silage maize varieties'
Organized for the third year in a row Boerenbusiness the Roughage Tour. Also this year we are following 10 dairy farmers throughout the Netherlands in their decisions regarding the extraction of roughage. In this series of company reports we introduce the entrepreneurs. In this fourth part: Jan Henk and Roelof Jan Waterink from Beerzeveld (Ov)
In Beerzeveld in Overijssel, about 16 kilometers north of Almelo, the Waterink family has been farming for 40 years. The location of the dairy farm was purchased at the end of the 80s through a partial land consolidation through urban expansion. Everything shows that Jan Henk and Roelof Jan Waterink are careful with their farm. Clean working is a top priority. This is clearly visible once inside the stable. The stable that was built in the 80s, but does not appear that way yet. The trusses are virtually dust-free and there are no places where dust can settle. "The roof was replaced not so long ago. The asbestos was cleaned up and insulation plates were returned".
Jan Henk and Roelof Jan Waterink milk 85 dairy cows with 35 heifers and 35 calves on their farm. The cows are milked with 1 SAC duo robot. Production is 10.500 liters with 4,40% fat and 3,45% protein. They cultivate 40 hectares, of which 32 hectares are grassland and 8 hectares maize. The current choice of varieties for grass is Havera 4 and LG 31.205 for maize.
When asked how the entrepreneurs describe themselves, the brothers should rather think carefully. "Actually, we are not afraid to avoid even one challenge on our farm. This applies to cows, land, and company. We like to experiment with breeding and new varieties in maize and grass. We also sometimes participate fertilization trials and test strips for new varieties," they say.
The entrepreneurs have most of the land behind the house, which is also used for grazing. They also have seven hectares of test strips for grassland and they took part in a fertilization trial for maize land. "We would like to see where the losses are and how we can do the best we can at our company".
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In conversation with the livestock farmers, it soon becomes clear how they stand as farmers in the Netherlands. "The worldwide demand for food continues to rise and here in the Netherlands we are only concerned with organic and sustainability. We will really not be able to feed the world with that." appoints Jan Henk. The brothers are doing their best to keep up with all the changes and try to sort out for this as well. Sometimes this is just not easy, so it is sometimes difficult to find the motivation for which it is all still being done.
The company does have a potential successor: the daughter of Roelof Jan. That is why the brothers also realize that it is important to keep going and do business with the company. With the potential successor, they gain new knowledge and characteristics in the company. She is interested in farming and is now studying at the HAS in Dronten. "Sometimes I don't want to advise her to even start at all, but the will is there," says Jan Henk.
The SAC milking robot has been running in the company for some time and is located in the middle on the left side of the barn in the middle. As a result, they have a group of cows in front of and behind the robot. "The robot is good in itself. But if we had to make the choice again now, we would have gone for a milking parlor with capacity. The maintenance of the robot is quite expensive and the capacity is disappointing," says Jan Henk. “He is satisfied with the quality of the maintenance.
Solar collector can be turned off
The machine room of the milking robot is located next to the milking parlor in a separate building. The control unit crosses over with a bundle of cables and pipes. "By building the building separately from the stable, we keep everything clean and separate". On top of the outbuilding is a solar collector that is used to heat the rinse water. "This saves a lot of gas and is an investment that certainly paid off."
The company supplies the milk to Leerdammer in Dalfsen and Fuite is fed. The Leerdammer factory is part of the Groupe Lactalis and mainly focuses on making the specific Leerdammer brand cheese.
Careful work can also be seen in the silage stores. The driving pits are all provided with a primer. "The silage is at least as important to us as the silage process," concludes Jan Henk.
Ronald Smit
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