A dream realised

For Hennie Verwaayen, building a cow barn was more than a practical decision – it was a dream rooted in his Dutch heritage. That dream became reality in 2014, when Hennie and wife Kerri constructed a 75m x 35m cow barn on their 140ha dairy farm just south of Dannevirke. Twelve years on, that barn remains central to the success and sustainability of their business.

Now the couple’s son Harvey and partner Zara own the herd and lease the land from Hennie and wife Kerri, having picked up where his parents left off: milking 360 Holstein Friesians under the Fromdale and Flathills stud prefixes. The herd produced 208,800kgMS last season – an average of 580kgMS per cow and fast approaching their target of 600kgMS/cow.

The barn sleeps 350 cows in individual raised beds, providing shelter and comfort regardless of the season. In winter, when southern Hawke’s Bay turns wet and bitterly cold, cows are inside during the day and out at night – weather dependent. From October to December, if the weather is good, they are outside enjoying the spring. In summer, the barn becomes a sanctuary from the Oringi farm’s dry microclimate, which is accentuated by the stoney soils that cover one third of the farm.

The barn serves as both a shadehouse and a windbreaker – “like a warm jacket in winter,” Harvey says – and that flexibility underpins the farm’s autumn-calving system. Cows start calving on March 1, avoiding the challenges of grass-less summers and ensuring quality feed and shelter through the most critical part of lactation.

A comprehensive floodwash effluent system supports the barn. Greenwater is recycled back into the tank, solids are separated and spread on paddocks, and the tank is refreshed as necessary. The system is efficient and environmentally considered – core to the Verwaayens’ long-term outlook.

“The barn is a tool we always have up our sleeves,” Harvey says. “When the winter weather is horrible, we don’t see a big fluctuation in milk production as we can fill the cows up in the barn to maintain milk production. Also, sleeping in the barn during bad weather reduces mud and sore feet.”

This consistency is crucial for performance and animal welfare, and the family’s supplementary feeding regime is tailored to support that. At peak, cows receive up to 6.5kg of maize and 6kg of in-shed feeding, which includes a 50/50 blend of palm kernel and DDG. Grass silage is added as needed, depending on pasture availability.

Efficiency and simplicity are themes that run throughout the Verwaayen operation. Harvey and Zara believe balance is the goal.

“We’re aiming for work-life balance,” Harvey says. “We like to work under a ‘simple but effective’ philosophy. We prefer not to overcomplicate things; we just do the best we possibly can for the cows. As long as everyone’s happy, it’s a good day.”

It’s a philosophy shared by the whole team. Alongside Harvey, Hennie, Kerri, and Zara are involved day-to-day. Staff member Dindo is a key part of the operation, and his wife lends a hand with calf rearing alongside Kerri and Zara. From time to time, the Verwaayens also host Dutch agricultural students.

Breeding priorities have shifted over the years. While the traditional Holstein Friesian cow has grown in size Harvey and Hennie have pulled back, seeking a more efficient animal.

“We really breed for a smaller cow,” Harvey says. “Holstein Friesians have gone too big. We like a cow with capacity, longevity, fertility, and hardiness. We’re targeting 600kgMS because our cow liveweight is 600kg – ideally, kilogram for kilogram.”

About 70–80 replacements are kept each season, and collar-based technology has made reproductive management more streamlined. Heat detection is accurate and efficient, allowing for an 11-week AI mating window. For the first three weeks, 80% of the herd is inseminated with sexed semen, with some conventional AI and beef semen used to follow.

While the farm’s autumn-calving schedule can make showing cattle more challenging – there are no in-milk cows to show – Harvey still enjoys supporting others in the ring.

Now proud to own the herd and lease the land, Harvey and Zara are grateful to Hennie and Kerri for paving the way for them, dedicating years of hard work to ensuring the next generation are passionate and knowledgeable dairy farmers.

The Verwaayens have managed to create a business deeply rooted in heritage, yet with the efficiency and sustainability that comes with modern practices.

“It was Hennie’s dream to build a barn,” Harvey says. “He saw a purpose and a place for the barn, and I think he was right. It comes with more work, but also more rewards.”