Den Hartog Dairy Farm is located in Kollum, Friesland, where approximately 720 cows are milked. At the beginning of 2026, the farm invested in improving cow comfort. New cubicle dividers and wave-shaped neck rails were installed, and the cubicles were widened to 1.22 metres.
Recently, the farm switched from sand to dried manure solids as cubicle bedding. The bedding material comes from the biogas digester located elsewhere on the farm. Twice a week, the cubicles are mechanically levelled and topped up with fresh bedding.
The farm opted for Spinder Vetvice cubicles. These cubicle dividers are specially designed for sand-bedded and deep-bedded cubicles. “We chose these cubicles because they make mechanical levelling and refilling so easy,” says farm manager Tjesse. “There is plenty of clearance underneath the dividers, so you don’t have to worry about hitting them while working.”
As a result, maintaining the cubicles is quick and straightforward. Tjesse first levels the bedding, after which a colleague follows with the bedding dispenser to add a fresh layer of material. The entire job is completed within half an hour.
In addition to making daily operations easier, the changes also give the cows more space. The wider cubicles and wave-shaped neck rails provide the animals with greater freedom of movement inside the cubicle. This makes it easier for them to lie down and get back up again.
After milking, the cows calmly make their way back into the barn. Many of them soon settle into a cubicle. Before lying down, a number of cows spend a little time moving the fresh, clean bedding around until they have made themselves a comfortable resting place.
By combining a practical barn layout with a strong focus on cow comfort, Den Hartog Dairy Farm has created a system that works well for both the farm staff and the cows. Maintenance is simple and efficient, while the animals benefit from more space and a comfortable place to rest.
