In conversation with… Dairy farmer Eline Vedder
We need to consider food security in addition to food safety
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Dairy farmers Eline (43) and Alben (51) run a family farm together, which has 75 dairy cows with accompanying young cattle in Ruinerwold in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Eline is a member of parliament for the Dutch political party CDA. Before this, she was a board member of the Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Association (LTO Nederland), and as chair of the animal health and welfare theme group, she actively contributed to the routeplan ‘Goede zorg voor het kalf’ (‘Good care for the calf’ road map), which was launched in 2022. This road map is the first joint plan of the dairy and veal sectors; two sectors that are inextricably linked within the food production system when it comes to milk and meat.
As a dairy farmer, how do you view calf husbandry?
Eline: “As a dairy sector, we cannot do without calf husbandry. These sectors are linked and complement each other. Therefore, it is only natural that we should work together more as sectors. As a dairy farmer, it is important that we can continue to market our calves responsibly in the future. Without calves, there is no milk. In doing so, we should certainly not forget that Dutch calf husbandry cannot do without the supply of healthy and strong calves from the region.”
What does your own dairy farm look like?
“Our business is located on a land consolidation farm in an open agricultural landscape. My parents-in-law settled here from Meppel in 1991. Our farm is surrounded by 42 hectares of land, mostly grassland. With our 75 dairy cows, our business operations are extensive. Our livestock spend a lot of time grazing outdoors. We have been supplying the milk to FrieslandCampina for years. We don't have any big future plans at the moment. We will continue farming here with pleasure in the coming years, taking our environment into account as much as possible. Animal health and welfare are also of paramount importance to our business operations.”
As a dairy sector, we cannot do without calf husbandry. These sectors are linked and complement each other.
Besides having a dairy farm together with your husband, you were also involved in administrative roles?
“Yes, that's right. In recent years, I have taken up various board positions. For instance, I served on the district council of FrieslandCampina and was a member of the vakgroep Melkveehouderij (Dairy Farming section) of LTO Nederland and a member of the provincial council in Drenthe. And since May 2023, I have been in the Dutch House of Representatives as a member of parliament for the CDA. We are all facing major issues when it comes to the future of agriculture in the Netherlands. Personally, I think it is a wonderful sector, which I am happy to contribute to in whatever form.”
Which topics appeal to you as a dairy farmer and board member?
“Within the LTO section, I was responsible for climate and animal welfare. It is important that all ongoing issues in agriculture are integrated into the decision-making process. There is increasing pressure from society when it comes to keeping animals and producing food responsibly. The livestock farming sector is under a magnifying glass. Therefore, it is more than desirable that we, as a dairy farming and calf husbandry sector, demonstrate together that we produce sufficient, tasty, nutritious dairy and meat products in a responsible manner every day.”
What role can the routeplan ‘Goede zorg voor het kalf’ (‘Good care for the calf’ road map) you worked on at LTO play in that?
“The road map is unique. In fact, it is the first road map drawn up jointly by the dairy and veal sectors. As dairy and veal sectors, we are facing various issues in the fields of animal health, animal welfare, circularity, soil quality, climate, water and biodiversity. Both sectors feel a responsibility to ensure calves are well cared for throughout the chain. With this plan, we are trying to flesh that out with all the chain parties together.”
In fact, it is the first road map drawn up jointly by the dairy and veal sectors.
What was the trigger and which (chain) parties play a role in this?
“The plan is actually the start of a dialogue with the LTO membership, government and society. There are many issues, such as animal welfare, use of antibiotics, transport and food safety, which everyone has an opinion about. This road map was drawn up with all chain parties – the dairy farming sector, veal sector, cattle trade and transport – to achieve further improvements in calf care. The VanDrie Group, as a partner of LTO, also made a significant contribution towards this. The VanDrie Group is a large and influential organisation in the veal sector and which also possesses a lot of knowledge and expertise.”
What does this plan mean in practice for you as a dairy farmer?
“Increased cooperation between the two sectors contributes to higher health standards. This is one of the main focal points. In practice, that means paying even more attention to the health and welfare of the calf. Through the Calf Monitoring System (Kalf Volg Systeem), we can track calf development throughout the chain. As dairy farmers, we know that a good start is very important. For example, it starts with providing regular and sufficient beestings. We are increasingly trying to tailor rearing to the conditions that exist within calf husbandry. This is not only pleasant for the animal itself, but it also means the veal farmer gets a healthier and fitter calf. Our calves now stay on the farm for 14 days. Discussions are currently taking place about keeping these calves longer, for 28 days. Extending this period will have implications for dairy farmers, however. It will require more housing, more feed and more labour from the dairy farmer. Coordination between the two sectors will become even more important. As a dairy farming sector, we will now prepare for this in collaboration with the calf husbandry sector.”
You just mentioned the Calf Monitoring System. What does that system entail?
“This system is not only important for transparency in the chain, but the knowledge gathered throughout the chain also makes an important contribution to improving care. The different phases and dates; from breeding, birth on the dairy farm, transportation, collection centres and calf husbandry can be viewed within the Calf Monitoring System. The health and resilience of the calf play an important role in this. With this knowledge, we worked together to formulate new goals for the future to increase calf resilience and health.”
What is the dairy farming sector doing to enhance the health status of livestock?
“As a dairy sector, for example, we have been working for years to eliminate the viruses IBR and BVD. This has quite a few advantages when it comes to animal health. Indeed, an outbreak of these viruses lowers resistance amongst livestock. As a result, other health problems can easily rear their heads, requiring farmers to treat their animals with veterinary medicines, such as antibiotics, more quickly. Moreover, an outbreak also has huge implications for exports. By deploying various (mandatory) health programmes, the dairy farming sector has been working for years to target both IBR and BVD with the aim of ensuring that the livestock population in the Netherlands is both IBR and BVD-free. To that end, it is important that now the other beef sectors, the calf husbandry sector and the meat livestock sector also start taking steps to achieve this national goal. Healthy livestock produces better and more efficiently, and also means less use of veterinary medicines.”
How will the plans from the road map become visible in practice?
“A good example is that from 1 January 2024, veal farmers may only accept Dutch calves that are not BVD carriers and may not import calves from BVD-risk countries. This is a great step towards achieving BVD-free livestock together. This new requirement will be added to the Calf Monitoring System. Together, we can therefore continue to work to improve livestock health in the Netherlands.”
With this knowledge, we have formulated new goals for the future together.
Is food safety an important part of this plan?
“The road map makes an important contribution to food safety. By applying the Calf Monitoring System, the entire chain is transparent and both dairy farmers and veal farmers can demonstrate how they produce high-quality and safe milk and meat products. Besides animal welfare, animal health and food safety, they also have an eye for the other societal issues of climate, soil, water, biodiversity. Within the road map, we mainly talk about food safety, but another important theme in the coming years, as far as I am concerned, is food security.”
Why do you think food security should be on the agenda?
“It is of course bizarre that we, as Europe, we have targets on climate, nature, nitrogen and food safety, but not with regard to food security or the degree of self-sufficiency. In Europe as a whole, we already do not have sufficient home-grown food. If, while working on those initial goals, we do not keep an eye on the impact on food production, our dependence on others for our food will only increase. Dutch dairy farming and calf husbandry can certainly play an important role in Europe's self-sufficiency. Animal proteins remain high-quality nutrients, which are an essential part of a healthy diet. The Netherlands has a lot of knowledge and experience in milk and meat production and we will certainly continue to make an important contribution to sustainable, responsible and safe food production in the future.”