Today Eyes on Animals visited a dairy farm called “De Regte Heijden” , located in Brabant. A few years ago the owners decided to change the way they ran their farm. They stopped running it intensively and started developing a new system that would better protect animal well-being and the environment. All the cattle live in a family herd. Both male and female calves stay with their mothers for 5 months before being weaned. At a later stage, after weaning, they come back together on the field. The cattle are no longer de-horned and have access to the outdoor fields whenever they want, also in the winter. They eat grass, clover and herbs. The farm does not use soya, pesticides, artificial fertilizers or antiobiotics (unless necessary to treat an illness). Their aim is to make their farm energy-neutral. Since recently the cattle also have access to a plot of forest land, where they enjoy sleeping and pregnant cows often choose to give birth in the added protection the forest gives. All in all, a terrific farm where animal-welfare standards are very high!
We would like to thank the family Van Roessel for the extensive tour and we wish them success with their “ethically responsible” business.
