Back W. W. Sikkema and B. Sikkema
Weardebuorren, The Netherlands
Abstract
A typical dairy farm in Holland, conventionally farmed by one family for
five generations began using EM in the mid 1990s. The farm consists of
55 ha, with 85 milk cows and 3 bulls, with a young stock of 65 animals.
The farm used EM on its grasslands and in silage making. The benefits of
using EM were clearly observed in greater milk yields, higher fat contents,
greater productivity of pastures and higher soil temperatures in winter,
which lengthened the grazing period. The success of using EM and its potential
in maintaining sustainable dairy farms of Europe is presented on the basis
of this case study.