VikingJersey cows: Lower investment, higher milk profits

For years, Ad and Geert Hems milked 75 Holstein cows at their family farm in Middelbeers, Netherlands. Today, they run a herd of 110 VikingJersey cows and have found a more profitable and manageable way to farm. But how did they get here?

Geert worked four days outside the farm, but after his father decided to retire, he knew a new approach was needed to run a profitable and stable dairy business. However, things turned out quite differently from what he had in mind.

Initially, Geert and Ad planned to expand their Holstein herd, building a new barn for 120 cows with two modern milking robots and a urine and manure management system. The total investment, including additional cows and phosphate taxes, was €1.7 million.

After finalising their plans and negotiating financing, bureaucratic delays halted the project, and the bank withdrew its financing. At the same time, shifting social and political priorities in the Netherlands added more uncertainty to large-scale dairy production.

After recovering from the disappointment, Geert and Ad quickly moved to Plan B. With guidance from Koole & Liebregts (K&L), VikingGenetics’ distributor in the Netherlands, they decided to transition to VikingJersey cows.

Lower investment, higher returns

Though depreciated, the farm’s old 1973 barn was not completely worn out. However, the dimensions were too small for North American Holsteins: only 2.50 metres of walking space between the feed barrier and the cubicles was available.

Instead of building a new barn, they renovated their existing barn by installing 1.05 m-wide stalls and two Fullwood milking robots. Removing the outdated milking parlour even made room for nine additional cubicles.

The total cost for this transition—including the renovations, robots, and Jersey cows—was just €300,000, a fraction of their original expansion plan.

Geert and Ad started by purchasing 70 lactating VikingJerseys from a grazing-based farm. Four months later, they added 30 more. The transition was seamless, and the results speak for themselves.

Geert and Ad now put significantly less labour per cow. "Having fewer problems with the Jersey cows means we put in the same amount of work as we did with 75 Holsteins," explains Ad.

Reproduction has also improved, as cow fertility benefits from regular cycles, excellent conception rates, and easy calvings.

"They calve very easily, and we only have to help if the calf is not positioned properly," says Geert. Heifers now calve at just 22 months.

Stronger health: The cows have clean uteruses post-calving, improved hoof health, and no need for antibiotics during the dry period.
Seamless robotic milking: "None of the cows have to be picked up. They run super on the robot."

"The last two years have gone by fast. Switching from Holsteins to Jerseys has greatly benefitted us," ends Geert.

In the picture: VikingJersey cows from Denmark

A transformed farm economy

The shift to VikingJersey has transformed the farm’s economy, boosting milk solids, total income, feed efficiency, and overall profitability.

The only downside? Their livestock dealer was concerned that the Hems family had stopped selling cows. "In the first 12 months after the switch, we only sold one cow. The dealer thought we were selling slaughter cows to someone else," says Geert, laughing.

For the Hems family, making the switch to VikingJersey has been a game-changer. With healthier cows, lower costs, and higher milk income, their dairy business is thriving more than ever.

See the farm's performance figures below:

	Holstein	VikingJersey
# of cows	75 cows	110 cows
Milk yield	730,000 L	770,000 L
Components %	4.5% fat, 3.5% protein	6.14% fat, 4.32% protein
Components Kg	58,400	80,300
Feed efficiency (Kg ECM x KG DMI)	1.35	1.65
Milk price, 100 Kg	€57	€74
Annual milk income	€416,000	€569,000

In the picture: VikingJersey cows from the Netherlands

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