Grazing in a peatland dairy farm: Boerderij de Verwondering

Jan Vonk manages Boerderij de Verwondering, a family dairy farm in Goudriaan with 115 cows on 61 hectares of peat meadow. The farm uses intensive rotational grazing, with cows grazing over 200 days annually on narrow, ditch-surrounded plots. Specialised feeding practices include concentrate feeding in the milking parlor and baled supplementary feed in summer to prevent mould. To protect the sensitive peat soil, heavy machinery use is minimised, and temporary workers with adapted equipment are hired for essential tasks. The farm prioritises sustainable land use and animal welfare, with cows walking 1.5 km along narrow paths to pastures. The project is funded by the European Union, with views solely those of the author.