Cow 0464 has star quality. Photo Dairy Campus For the first time in the history of the Dairy Campus, one of the Leeuwarder Frisian Holstein cows has been awarded a Star designation. That´s a pretty exclusive honorary title, awarded annually to just a few hundred cows out of the total of over three million cattle in the Netherlands.
It´s a particularly exceptional feat for a cow on the Dairy Campus to get an award like that, explains the communications adviser Milja Roosjen. ‘They’re looked after as well as possible, of course – they get extra attention from the staff and are tracked by all kinds of systems, but the research context does make it extra challenging. They move stalls regularly, for instance, and the feed they’re given changes now and then. This award is a sign telling us we’re on the right track, making everything go as comfortably as possible for the animals.’
The Star designation is given by the CRV, a large stud book and breeding organization for dairy farming. The award is specifically for mature dairy cows, animals assessed at age 9, 12 or 15 as well above average in terms of their external appearance (build) and milk production details, such as overall production and protein and fat content. Dairy cows in the Netherlands reach 6 years on average, after which they are slaughtered. Cow 0464 is 9 years old. ME
