Along the canal in Schalkwijk lies Dairy Farm Buiten, run by the Hogendoorn family. Elmar and Egberdien started keeping livestock as a hobby. They still do this on a hobby basis, but the business has grown to include more than just cows. The family also runs a construction company through which they take on many agricultural projects. Dairy Farm Buiten was created out of the family's desire to bridge the gap between the city and the countryside.
Upon arriving at the property, a banner by the roadside reading “Spinder inside” immediately makes it clear that this is a Spinder barn. One of the first things to catch your eye is the self-service farm shop. It offers a wide range of products, including meat, ice cream, licorice, and milk. Several cars are parked on the premises, belonging to guests visiting the playground. Children are actively playing, and some of the visitors are also quite curious about the cows.
All the way to the left is the cow barn, which is equipped with various Spinder products. “We consciously chose Spinder because, through our construction company, we take on many agricultural projects and have experience with Spinder's products. We’ve heard many positive stories from customers about Spinder, so for us, it was quickly clear that the barn would be outfitted with Spinder equipment,” says Egberdien Hogendoorn-de Groot. In the barn, the cows are eating, resting, grooming themselves with brushes, and taking turns being milked by the milking robot.
Ideal feed fronts
Highline safety feed fronts are used for the dairy cows. These feed fronts are easy to operate with a lever. The feeding spaces can be opened and closed either all at once or individually. Egberdien explains: “The feed fronts are ideal. We can’t imagine using ones that can’t be opened or closed anymore. During pregnancy checks, we can easily lock the cows in place so we can carry out the procedure safely.”
Dual waterbeds
The cows lie in rows next to each other. Between them, you can see the Profit cubicles with waved neck bars. These make it easy for the cows to lie down and get up comfortably. The cubicles are fitted with Dual waterbeds. The dual compartments of these waterbeds provide not only lying comfort but also knee support. The cows essentially float on a thin layer of water, which helps regulate temperature and prevents pressure points, lying injuries, and swollen hocks.
Other Products
In addition to the Highline feed fronts, Profit cubicles, and Dual waterbeds, there are several other Spinder products found in the barn, including:
