Rudi Hooch Antink, dairy farmer in Koekange:

I can take my daughter again to swimming classes
“Often it is asked if we get a higher milk price because we are participating in Ben & Jerry’s Caring Dairy project. Although we do get compensated by Ben & Jerry’s for the extra hours we put in Caring dairy, we don’t get a higher milk price. You see, Caring Dairy helps me with a better understanding of all the different aspects and their mutual relation, of my farming business. This helps me to make better, more efficient decisions, which eventually also lead to a better economic performance of my farm.
The way we look at sustainable dairy farming in the Caring Dairy project is looking at all the different aspects that are important to improve our business: environmental and economic aspects, but also regarding the welfare of our cows and our labour conditions.
The installation of an automatic milking system for example enables me to go with my 5 year old daughter to swimming class at 7 in the morning. Before, with my older sons I was always milking the cows at that time. And it’s also more comfortable for the cows, since the ladies now decide themselves when and how often they like to get milked. But it is all a matter of personal preferences, other farmers prefer the conventional way. That’s what I really like about Caring Dairy, it’s continuous improvement, but based on my personal priorities and the belief that there are more ways that lead to Rome”.

To read more about our sustainable dairy farming programmes,
click on links below:

The Caring Dairy approach
The 11 sustainability indicators
Listen to our farmers
Vermont based ‘Dairy Farming Stewardship Alliance’

For questions regarding our Caring Dairy programme, please contact our Environmental Sustainability & Social Mission Manager: anniek.mauser@benjerry.com.