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Dutch breeders visiting french farms
« Veeteeltstudieclub Waterland » is a studygroup from the Netherlands. They are
a group of enthusiastic dairy farmers from the area called Waterland, a region 10
km north of Amsterdam.
They all milk Holstein cows and have different types
of herds, varying from 40 till 200 cows, and from the usual milking system to carousel
and robot. But they have one thing in common: they all like to see cows with a good
exterieur. Every year, the studygroup organizes a few day trips within the country
to visit interesting farms. Also, since 2004, they organize every year a trip to
another country and try to see interesting farms in that country. They have already
been to England, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain and Sweden.
This year they decided to go to France so they asked Gènes Diffusion to arrange
two days of farm visits around the Burgundy - Lorraine area.
The tour included:
- GAEC de l’Aumône in Moutiers St Jean, where the Challan-Belval family presented
several members of the REMARLINDA family including the dam of BERNAC and BACHARA, plus several red females, some of them carrying
the polled gene.
- GAEC de la Roche in Aprey, where the Delanne family presented several cows classified
VG or EX and sired by JESTHER, ROUMARE, UHLAND, SURPLUS, LONARD, … and heifers from genomic bulls
like CABARET, CYPRIPEDE and DOMIN EURO.
- GAEC des 2 Vallées in Viocourt, where the Humblot brothers had prepared several
descendants of the ODYSSÉE (EX94) family. After looking at the cows, the french
and the dutch dairymen had a very interesting exchange on topics such as genomics,
genetic choices, milking production after 2015, price of land, …
-
GAEC de la Coumière in Effincourt (Varnier family),
famous in Europe for winning classes and championships at the major shows including
Paris, Epinal, Lausanne, … The visit of the new barn in construction for 250 cows
was an opportunity to discuss building options and the future of dairying.
Between the two days, the group spent the night in the guest house of Christine
et Willem Van Rooy – Kadmaer in Savigny (Haute-Marne)… so they had no need for an
interpreter! Eventhough the temperature was not as expected for june,
they all enjoyed the picnic outside and finish the evening around a wood fire.
The group was joined by Henk Oldeman and Richard Barbers of Gènes Diffusion Holland
that made a presentation of the company and the GD bulls marketed in Holland: DANILLO, VAUCLUSE, PEINZER BOY…
According to Nynke Pos, leader of the group, the visitors saw excellent herds, beautiful
cows and enjoyed the way they were received by “nice farmers”! They also liked travelling
through the beautiful landscapes of Côte d’Or, Haute-Marne and Vosges departements.