Dairy farm Van Ginkel in Renswoude is a modern family farm, keeping 200 cows of which 118 are dairy cows. In 2022, a new barn was built that is future-proof and MDV (Dutch certification scheme for sustainable livestock farms) approved. During the construction of the new barn, several Spinder barn equipment products were installed to make the barn a comfortable place for cows. Since the construction of the new barn, production has increased from 8500 litres per cow to 9300 litres per cow.
Van Ginkel family's farm is affiliated with De Graafstroom, a dairy supply chain characterised by its honest and quality products. The cows have daily opportunities to go outside, which contributes to their welfare and health. Van Ginkel family's barn is MDV approved, which means it has a lower environmental impact and meets strict sustainability requirements. The barn is therefore future-proof, which is beneficial for Gerben, the son, who wants to take over the farm in the future.
Prior to the construction of the new barn, family Van Ginkel, together with Gilbert from De Nijborg Agri, visited the Spinder factory and a number of barns with Spinder products to get inspiration for the layout of the barn. Van Ginkel then chose to install several Spinder products in the barn. Namely: Profit free stall divider, Highline safety feed fonts. Pingo drinking troughs, Slider telescopic gates, Heavy Duty lift draw gate, Dual waterbeds, Nirvana cowbrush, Cuddlebox and various partition barriers and palisade feed fronts.
The family milks cows in a 2 x 12 milking parlour. Since the construction of the new barn, the cows have started giving an average of 9300 litres, compared to 8500 litres previously. The average age at discharge is 5.6 years.
Marius van Ginkel came across a waterbed while doing contract work and was convinced then that this is a comfortable place for a cow. Now, three years later, he still stands by this. "The Dual waterbeds ensure that our cows no longer have bare and thick heels," he says. And besides, they are easier to keep clean than a deep litter box".
Besides the waterbeds, the family is also very pleased with the Highline safety feed fronts. "The functions of the Highline feed fronts are very nice. For example, we can use the feed fronts during insemination or other treatments because we can secure the cows in them." The Cuddlebox is used by the Van Ginkel family when a cow is about to give birth: "Occasionally, we secure a cow using the Cuddlebox so that we can milk her safely while the calf is being licked off or so that we can carry out other necessary operations safely. It's ideal!"
