Brian Madsen

1. Brian Madsen “Milk from hay and grass from a nature conservation area with a mobile milking robot”

2. How to make milk from hay and grass by Brian Madsen (Denmark) • About me • My working system: nature’s dairy in Denmark • Type of entrepreneur, company and environment • Important factors for success of system

3. Brian Madsen: nature’s dairy in Denmark Who is Brian Madsen? • married, with 4 children • owns farm together with wife My farm in brief: • organic dairy farm • further development into biodynamic farm My environment: • Central Denmark (eastcoast)

4. Brian Madsen: nature’s dairy in Denmark • I’m now involved in setting up a farm that is very similar to Nature’s Dairy. This system appeals to me very much, as it fits very well with my personal goals and company strategy : • An operating system that is as natural as possible • Low costs and little external capital • Sale of milk as a regional specialty

5. Developments • Developments so far: • Started with 40 cows, first 8 years as a conventional farm, and for the last 8 years as an organic farm • 7 years at the present location: 34 hectares in ownership and 16 hectares long-term lease • Curren location was originally a pig farm, and was converted on a low cost budget • 200 hectares of natural grass available on the “Barritskov” estate

6. Making milk from hay and grass The operational system: • Organic farming developing into biodynamic farming in the future • Cooperation with a private nature conservation organisation • Cows are kept outside as much as possible • Cows fed a diet based on hay and grass  natural milk with a distinctive natural taste • Cows milked with the aid of a mobile milking robot (under development) • A very simple cowshed for the winter • For the time being, a low-cost milking parlour making use of milking equipment from the old cowshed • Milk is sold through a small cooperative as a regional specialty, making use of sales channel for vegetable packages

7. Making milk from hay and grass • Entrepreneur: • Makes his own choices and goes his own way: organic farming, does not supply to Arla, clearly does not fit into general Danish pattern of expansion/growth, does not have to be the owner of the ground per se • The animal is the focus: if you’re good to the cattle, the cattle will be good to you • Location: • Use land that is already available; location sought appropriate to the desired system • Natural environment, providing the cattle with enough space to live

8. Making milk from hay and grass • Cow • Proper care of the cows provides good results • Care for sick cows, and give them the necessary time and rest they need to recover • Provide a natural environment for people as well as animals • Healthy cows give better tasting milk

9. Making milk from hay and grass • Important factors for the success of this system: • Generating sales • Relationship with owner of the estate • Development of mobile milking robot (not really indispensable)