Kolbach farm
- Location: Brakel, Netherlands
- Owner: Henk Kolbach
- Number of dairy cows: 65
- Breed: Red Holstein
- Milk production: 600,000 kg per year
- Milking system: VMS
- Number of milkings per day: 2.8
- Farm size: 38 ha
The farm
Henk Kolbach’s parents moved to a farm in Brakel, the Netherlands in 1974. Henk took over the business from his parents in 1997. He had the barn renovated in 2001 and installed a VMS in 2002. The robot replaced a fifteen-year-old 2x5 herringbone Miele parlour. The herd was milked twice a day with the old parlour, but with the VMS, the cows are milked an average of 2.8 times a day, saving Henk three hours of work a day.
Herd management
Henk’s herd has 60 young stock with a replacement rate of about 20 percent. The average age of first calving is two years and one month. The Kolbachs use artificial insemination and raise their own calves. The ALPRO herd management system is used in conjunction with “Uniform,” a local software programme. Furthermore, to ensure the comfort of his herd, which is loose-housed, Henk uses ventilation, mattresses, rubber flooring, a windbreak and a rotating cow brush.
Herd facts
- average age of cows: 4.7 years
- percentage in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and higher lactation: 25, 33, 47
- average lactation length: 305 days
- calving interval: 420 days
Feeding
Henk uses a total mixed ration of 1.5 kg soya, and for structure, an additional 0.5 kg hay. He also adds sugar beet pulp. The farm uses a maximum of 6 kg of concentrate in the VMS and the rest in feeding stations, yielding a maximum of 8 kg per cow per day. He also uses corn and silage for roughage. They grow the grass, but purchase about half of the corn. The cows do not graze outdoors.
Manure management
A contractor handles the farm’s manure, which is stored in a 1,350 sq. m. manure tank for seven months, and then injected into the fields. Henk says there are a lot of environmental regulations, which he thinks look good on paper, but don’t work in practice.
Milking
The Kolbach farm produces 600,000 kg per year, which is double to that produced ten years ago. This is due to the increase in the number of cows and a higher yield of milk per cow. The milk contains 4.3% fat and 3.4% protein, and a total bacteria count of 10,000-23000. The herd is milked 2.8 times a day with a VMS and the milk is delivered every three days. Currently, the milk price is EUR 0.32. (Jan 2007)
Henk says they haven’t had any problems with udder infections that have affected their milk quality. They work very hard to breed healthy cows and this has paid off: CR Delta, a company that works with improving the quality of livestock, gave the Kolbach’s cows an average rating of 84.2. The overall average for the Netherlands is 80. Thanks to the Kolbach’s focus on health and hygiene, their milk quality is good. A very clean stable, as well as fresh air, low humidity and healthy cows, all contribute to good milk quality. The farm is unique in that they have been declared para-free, status 10, BVD-free, IBR-free and lepto-free. Henk says they don’t use teat spray or dip because they have excellent udder health, and they only use cold water.
Henk has been quite satisfied with the robot and everything has been working well. Henk’s twenty-one-year-old son, Rene, says everything runs so smoothly that it’s boring. With the VMS system, which mean more frequent milkings, Henk’s herd produces 1,500 kg more milk per cow per year. Henk also focuses on good breeding management, which has helped boost production.
The future
The Kolbach farm has enough cubicles for 120 cows, but EU and Dutch environmental regulations make expansion difficult since it is contingent on a quota system. Manure handling is also a barrier to expansion because disposal currently has to be paid for. If the current quota system is abolished, Rene may be able to expand in the future. He currently has two-and-a-half years of studies left at the Higher Agricultural School. He’s not sure what he wants to do in the future, but says he wants to gain experience elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad.
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