A cow stall of hundreds of square metres, completely open with lots of air and light. And on top of that a soft, warm, floor made of compost. It’s almost a ‘meadow with a roof’.
Such a free-range stall is a novelty in the Netherlands, and extremely animal friendly. And what’s good for the cow, is good for the farmer. Cattle farmers are aware of this, which is why they're closely following a practical experiment by the University of Wageningen.
Farmers know their cows like to have a lot of space to move about in, and that a soft floor is better for the hooves. Such well-being keeps the animals healthier, they live longer, and they produce more milk. In short, farmers like their girls to have as natural surroundings as possible, even inside.
But isn’t such a ‘lounge for cows’ a bit too luxurious, isn’t the Dutch climate too wet for a compost floor, and above all: Shouldn’t the cow be outside? The ultimate finishing touch to the Dutch landscape?
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Tim G
Of course cows should be outside. They are healthier, produce better milk and lead better lives... and a floor made of compost - rotting vegetables and the like? Whats the matter with grass.
Moooooooooooo, lovely cows!
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