Farm

On this web site we enjoy telling you about our day's work on the farm. There is always so much going on – enough to come and see for yourself! To give you an impression, however, we will briefly describe our daily and seasonal routines.

Much of our energy is spent daily on our cows – both young and old. They are milked and cared for twice a day. This includes feeding the cows green maize ensiled in the farmyard before they are milked. This silage process actually begins in April, when the land is worked and the maize kernels are sown. Every year we aim to grow 15 acres of maize. (1 acre is just over 4,000 m2, remember?) In the following October we cut the green maize and ensile it, which means that we pile it up and then cover it with plastic sheets to preserve it.

Grass goes through the same process. Once we have spread the manure onto the pastures and the grass has had some time to grow well, it is cut in May. It is then ensiled after it has had time to dry out in the field for a few days. This food supply is not used until the autumn, when the cows are moved out from the field and into the stables.

The feed ration of dairy cows is rather complicated, so we will not bother you with that. The most important thing to know is that large volumes of milk need to be produced at low cost. And that is why our cows need to be pampered to bits!

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A cow is impregnated at our farm by means of artificial insemination, for which we select a genetically suitable bull to improve the breed. And of course we hope the cow will have a heifer calf. That is a girl calf. Heifer calves can stay on the farm and after two years will begin to give milk. Every year we have about 20 heifer calves in the separate stable, where they are pampered to bits by granddad Van der Salm. After all, they are only young once so everything has to be perfect for them.

Our elder son Jeroen is a great help. He enjoys working on the farm and keeps a keen eye on the right priorities. We hope he will be the next generation on this family farm.

In addition there are about 70 calves which are born throughout the year. It is absolutely worth seeing this. If a cow decides to give birth during your stay, we will definitely come and call you! In springtime it is time for the lambs. This is quite a joy, because it means spring has arrived.

You are very welcome as guests in our cottages, but most of all you are very welcome on our farm. We will be happy to answer any of your questions and to introduce you to the most beautiful animals in the world – cows!