District - The concept of suckler cow husbandry was recently presented by AELF Holzkirchen at the Derleder farm in Degerndorf and at the Kammerloher Hof in Sufferloh.
Many dairy farmers in the region are currently under pressure to modernize their farms.
Necessary, often expensive investments mean that this project is not always profitable.
In order to keep the farm and animal husbandry going, many farm managers are looking for suitable alternatives to dairy farming.
Suckler cow husbandry can be one.
"Even if suckler cows require less daily care than their milk-producing counterparts, a coherent concept is also required for this type of husbandry," explains Josef Schmalzbauer, an expert in cattle husbandry at AELF Holzkirchen, during a recent excursion.
"It should enable animals and humans alike to be as comfortable as possible and also be profitable."
Münsingen farm starts with suckler cows
Suckler cow husbandry comes very close to the natural behavior and the original way of life of a cattle.
The suckler cow herd is mainly kept on the pasture.
The suckler cow has a calf about every twelve months.
Both stay together for up to ten months.
The milk of the suckler cow supplies the calf in the first months of life.
With increasing age and maturation of the digestive tract, the calf consumes more and more grass and hay.
The cow-calf bond loosens over time, until the calves are separated from the suckler cow.
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Josef Schmalzbauer from AELF Holzkirchen (left), operations manager Ludwig Derleder (center) and Konrad Wagner from AELF Regensburg / Schwandorf explain the principles of suckler cow husbandry in Degerndorf.
© AELF
The example of the Derleder company in the Münsingen district of Degerndorf shows how suckler cow husbandry can work.
Ludwig Derleder reports on his start with suckler cow husbandry: “We converted the former machine hall of our company into an open-front barn for suckler cows.
Actually, the animals are always on the generous pasture - a stable building is still important.
The stable offers the animals, especially during the calving season, protection and a place to retreat. "
The Derleder company mainly sells through a regional retail chain.
In addition, self-made baked goods and other regional products are marketed in the farm shop.
"Well-functioning marketing that fits the farm is crucial for the profitability of suckler cow husbandry," emphasizes Konrad Wagner, specialist consultant for suckler cow husbandry.
Kammerloher Hof as an example
The Schön family's business is also exemplary.
This runs the Kammerloher Hof in the Holzkirchen district of Sufferloh.
The Schöns have been marketing the meat of their ecologically-kept suckler cow herd for many years.
Plant manager Regina Schön showed the open-front stables with her parents.
This year these have been expanded to offer the animals more space, eating and lying comfort.
“Our animals don't know any stress,” explains the family.
The green areas directly adjacent to the stables are used as so-called short grass pastures and are available to the animals all year round.
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