How this dairy farmer reduce the mastitis level by 75% on his farm?
When Wibo van der Linde is redesigning his barn in the spring of 2020, he sees an opportunity to address a long-standing irritation. The dairy farmer in Achthuizen, South Holland, is fully committed to clean water: "Good water means more drinking, which is essential for health and production. We used to brush the troughs clean every week, but now we have to remind ourselves to remove the feed residues, because the water remains continuously fresh and clear!"
In the process, the smiling farmer admits that he himself had to be made aware of the quality of the water in the drinking trough. "It is very common that there is a layer of slime in the drinking troughs. You don't know any different or perhaps think it's saliva from the cows. At the same time, we were also fooling ourselves a bit, for example by cleaning the troughs thoroughly before a KoeKompas check. So, subconsciously, somewhere you know that things can and must be done better."
Return on investment is very high
For Wibo the choice for the Watter system was the right one. "When I was looking for techniques to make drinking water bacteria-free, it was important to me that the product worked and was safe. You're not waiting for Fipronil-like scenes and you also keep the finances in mind. In my view, a good investment actually saves costs: because it saves, for example, on feed and vet costs."
Van der Linde was pointed out by his advisor to the Drenthe-based Watter system. This involves making a disinfectant from water on site, which combats germ growth in the pipes. "It is quite a threshold to make an investment in such a drinking water system from nothing, but it has more than paid for itself. You see the results in the drinking troughs in the first ten days: the water becomes clearer and smells fresh. But the real hit follows after that."
Undeniable effect on health
Wibo is referring in particular to the effect on udder health. "The number of cows with mastitis has dropped by about 75% and production has also increased. Because there are no germs in the water, they cannot infect the cow. Of course, we have made more adjustments in the barn, such as the robots. But the effect of clean water on the health of the cow is irrefutable."
For the dairy farmer, this means more enjoyable farming: "Udder infections cost money, of course, but they also give you worries. You ask yourself what you can do better and of course the cow herself is not feeling well either. A healthy herd is the basis for our work. An investment in the Watter system is not only good for the return, but also for the well-being of the cow. It is highly recommended for every dairy farmer."
Want to discover more about the Watter-system?
Would you like to find out what Watter can do for your business? Our team is happy to answer any of your questions!