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Dutch farmers achieve record production, cow health, and job satisfaction with ProCROSS

Crossbreeding helps dairy farmers achieve remarkable results, with higher production, healthier cows, and better job satisfaction. Hear from four Dutch farmers whose businesses have been transformed for the better thanks to ProCROSS.

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Better job satisfaction and higher profits

Wim and Wouter Wijnhout milk 207 ProCROSS cows at their farm,  De Kleine Tichelhof, in Wijhe, Overijssel, Netherlands. For many years, their herd has produced well over 12,000 kg of milk per cow with high components.

ProCROSS is a 3-breed rotational crossbreeding concept that combines VikingHolstein, VikingRed, and Montbéliarde. This gives them cows with superior fertility, excellent longevity, and higher lifetime production that translate into outstanding results:

  • 36 cows have produced 100,000+ kg of milk
  • 3 have given 10,000+ kg of fat and protein

This is possible thanks to good management, lower cow mortality, and high-performance ProCROSS cows.

"The better health and fertility of our ProCROSS cows helps us achieve significantly higher figures than the national average. More importantly, our job satisfaction is better than ever. We get less stress from our cows and have more room to develop the farm further," says Wouter.

Click + below to see the Wijnhouts' full production figures

  • 207 ProCROSS cows
  • Milk: 12,614 kg
  • Fat: 4.26%
  • Protein: 3.64%
  • Components: 997 kg
  • Longevity: 5.01 lactations
ProCROSS cows Netherlands K&L Wouter Win Wjinhout

+3,260kg milk within 24 months

Following several years of investing in modernising his family’s farm in Everdingen, near Utrecht, Arie van Eck decided it was time to get a return on their investment. To achieve this, he was determined to greatly increase the milk production of his 117 ProCROSS cows.

After significantly intensifying their feeding, within 24 months milk production rose from 8,977 kg to 12,237 kg. Even the fat and protein levels increased.

“You often hear that higher production causes more health problems, but our ProCROSS cows have adapted fantastically. They stay healthy and need little work. Last year, we had only one dead calf," says Arie. “In 2025, we aim to produce over 13,000 kg,” he adds.

Click + below to see the van Ecks' full production figures

  • 117 ProCROSS cows
  • Milk: 12,237 kg
  • Fat: 4.03%
  • Protein: 3.50%
  • Components: 931 kg
  • Longevity: 4.10 lactations
ProCROSS cows Netherlands K&L Arie van Eck
The better health and fertility of our ProCROSS cows help us achieve significantly higher figures than the national average. More importantly, our job satisfaction is better than ever. We get less stress from our cows and have more room to develop the farm further.

Wouter Wijnhout,
Dairy Farmer, De Kleine Tichelhof

More kilos of milk from resilient cows

Ron van Puijenbroek, from Moergestel, North Brabant, likes cows that can thrive under pressure, especially in the changing conditions facing the Netherlands’ dairy industry. "I want to milk resilient cows, and I get that with ProCROSS," explains Ron.

Previously milking Holsteins, Ron switched to ProCROSS after doing significant research and speaking with K&L, VikingGenetics’ distributor in the Netherlands.

The deciding factor came during a visit to the USA. “The high milk and components and much healthier cows of the ProCROSS herds we visited convinced me that it was the right choice,” he says.

For Ron, breeding with ProCROSS is incredibly easy. He just needs to choose the best bulls from the three breeds: VikingHolstein, VikingRed, and Montbéliarde.

Click + below to see Ron's full production figures

  • 201 ProCROSS cows
  • Milk: 12,947 kg
  • Fat: 4.10%
  • Protein: 3.50%
  • Components: 995 kg
  • Longevity: 4.07 lactations
ProCROSS cows Netherlands K&L Ron van Puijenbroek

“Invisible” cows deliver efficient production

To efficiently manage the dual workload of their dairy and pig production in Eibergen, Gelderland, Rik Baak and his family sought “invisible” cows that could produce tons of milk without falling ill or requiring extra care. After switching to ProCROSS, they got just that.

Changing Holstein cows with crossbreds was a big step for the Baaks, but they only need to look at their herd to see the difference that more resilient cows can make: 

  • Better health and longevity = fewer vet bills
  • Lower replacement rates
  • Higher lifetime production per cow

"After switching to ProCROSS, we decide when and how a cow goes out; we have almost zero involuntary cullings now,” says Rik.

Click + below to see the Baaks' full production figures.

Find the best bulls for ProCROSS
  • 115 ProCROSS cows
  • Milk: 12,122 kg
  • Fat: 4.49%
  • Protein: 3.53%
  • Components: 972 kg
  • Longevity: 5.00 lactations
ProCROSS cows Netherlands K&L Rik Baak

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