Why Dutch dairy farming is relevant
The lessons learnt in Dutch dairy farming are relevant to dairy development programs worldwide. Most of these programs focus on dairy intensification for increasing cattle productivity, and include crossbreeding local breeds cattle with Holstein Friesian (HF) breed through artificial insemination. Over time this may lead to several unexpected complications for farmers, environment and project managers alike – see the article:
In the worldwide support to dairy programs the experiences from Dutch dairy farming are combined with international experience on natural livestock farming on sustainable ways to produce quality milk, without chemical residues. This is based on the NLF 5-layered approach, including the use of herbs (ethno-veterinary practices) as well as sustainable breeding strategies.
How can we support?
Dutch Farm Experience, together with other partners within the Foundation for Natural Livestock Farming, have developed several methodologies to support dairy farmers, including:
- Wheel of Animal Production and Wellbeing – a participatory tool for dairy planning, monitoring and evaluation
- Review lessons learnt in Dutch dairy farming, and see which of those are applicable in the local situations
- Training courses on safe use of herbs and herbal products (Ethno Veterinary Medicine) for farmers and veterinarians
- Contextualize the Natural Livestock Farming 5-layered strategy for sustainable dairy production, and residue free milk to the local conditions
- Organize an NLF exchange & training program, for example to NLF-India, on the safe use of herbs (Ethno Veterinary Practices) for prevention and cure of important cattle diseases, such as mastitis
- Studies on a variety of topics related to sustainable livestock production in a changing context. Special expertise in livestock & climate change, and reduction of antibiotic use.
Worldwide dairy support projects
On request, Dutch Farm Experience can provide direct project support, for example for implementation of the Wheel of Animal Production and Wellbeing as a planning, monitoring and evaluation tool with smallholder dairy farmers.
Another form of project support is through implementation of NLF strategy, including the safe use of herbs, for specific challenges in dairy project such as mastitis, ticks and tick-borne diseases, calf mortality and milk quality problems. For this project support the linkage with expertise from the international NLF partners is sought, for example on Ethno Veterinary Practices.
Indirect project support is possible through dairy project evaluation, training of project staff, exchange visits to Natural Livestock Farming partners with specific expertise, and studies on topics related to dairy farming.
interested? Contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Due to the COVID crisis the tailor made tours have have ceased, just like the international dairy support and the exchange programs. Dutch Farm Experience is active, however, and available for on-line training events.
Related articles:
Dairy Wheel: Successful monitoring tool for dairy farming in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has countless number of rural families and women that keep one or two cows each. They keep them in small sheds alongside the house, providing them with bits of grass and other green fodder that is locally available. Twice daily a milker will come to the home to milk the cows and bring it to a local shop to sell milk or make sweets out of it.
New article: “Hidden effects of dairy farming on public and environmental health”
Main conclusion of the article: “The focus on crossbreeding and increasing the productivity of dairy cattle has, besides enhanced milk production, also lead to increased use of agro-chemicals, importantly antibiotics and anti-parasite drugs.
Dutch Farm Experience presents antibiotic reduction strategy at World Bank
The Natural Livestock Farming 5-layer integrated strategy to reduce antibiotic use in dairy farming was welcomed as a new and innovative approach to improve food quality. Meanwhile, it became clear that, although nutrition and safe food are gaining importance on the WB agenda, the emphasis on residues in food is still very limited.
Dairy monitoring and training on basis of Wheel of Animal Production & Wellbeing
Most dairy training manuals in the world have the objective of transforming a low-input integrated livestock producers into a market-oriented and specialized dairy farmers.
New hope for dairy farmers in India & the global threat of multi-resistant micro-organisms: medicinal plants for mastitis treatment
India is the world’s largest milk producer, accounting for 13-15% of the world’s total milk production.
Clients and partners From worldwide dairy support projects
Frequently Asked Questions
The content and cost of the tour depends on the details of your request: major interest, number of participants, length of the tour and number of farmers to be visited. The most popular programs have 1 day duration for a group of 20-30 participants, and include:
- Arrival and reception at farm 1 (to be selected)
- Introduction: history of Dutch dairy farming and lessons learnt
- Introduction to farm 1 + on-farm tour
- Lunch with (organic) farm produce
- Travel to farm 2 (to be selected) – or additional training on farm 1
- Evaluation of tour
The cost of a tour depends on the specific program requirements and number of participants. Please send an e-mail detailing your request for a cost estimate of the tour of your choice. Please note that tours are not possible on Sundays.
Dutch Farm Experience does not organize training in the Netherlands for individual farmers, only for groups. This is, amongst other difficulties, related to visum acquisition challenges and cost involved. We can only work through formally registered institutes and companies.
Dutch Farm Experience links you with Dutch dairy farmers, but is in itself a NOT a dairy farm.
If you are visiting the Netherlands you are welcome to visit a farm with a farm shop. Dutch Farm Experience does not organize this. Farmers/individuals visiting the Netherlands and interested to visit a Dutch farm: please go to the nearest farm during the opening hours of the farm-shop – review the possibilities at https://www.lekkerder.nl/ or https://landwinkel.nl/
Dutch Farm Experience does not organize internships nor working places on farms . For more info on internships at organic farms, please visit WWOOF https://wwoof.net/.
Dutch Farm Experience does not provide services for exporting Dutch cattle or goods related to dairy farming.