Average lifetime production of Flemish dairy cows at record high
The average lifetime production of dairy cows in Flanders reached a record of 31,323 kgs with 4.23% fat and 3.49% protein in 2023/24. The productive lifetime of the cows increased by 4 days compared to the previous reporting period, while the number of 100-tonners increased to 217.
Those figures from the annual statistics of Cooperatieve Rundveeverbetering CRV are based on data from dairy cows that were removed from dairy farms in this part of Belgium. Never before have dairy cows in Flanders reached a higher lifetime production than in the 12 months till 31 Augustus 2024, CRV says.
Productive days
The increase in the number of animals with a lifetime production of over 100,000 kgs from 173 to 217 is a further proof of increasing production. Some 8 Flemish cows realised over 10,000 kg fat and protein during their total lifetime, compared to 6 in the previous period. The higher figures are partly due to an increase in the number of productive days, the period between the first calving date and the last time a sample was taken, CRV explains.
The average daily production of the dairy herd in Flanders also went up from 30.9 kgs to 31.2 kgs per milking day. The rolling average on the 1,522 Flemish Milk Production Registration dairy farms which qualified for the ranking reached 9,726 kgs of milk with 4.25% fat and 3.52% protein, resulting in 756 kgs of fat and protein. Milk production was 120 kgs higher than in the previous 12 months, the fat content decreased by 0.02% and the protein content increased by 0.01%.
CRV names Joris Becelaere from Veurne, close to the border with France, as front runner for the lifetime production of removed animals. The 11 cows which were, in the reporting period, removed from his farm with an average age of 8 years and 11 months realised a lifetime production of on average 70,717 kgs of milk with 4.28% fat and 3.46% protein.
The ‘title’ for the highest production of cows still on the farm went to Patriek Gaudissabois from Knesselare. In the reporting period, his 37 cows produced 45,226 kgs of milk with 4.26% fat and 3.41% protein.
