For a long time, Ralf Beuel focused on Black and White genetics to boost the milk yield of his herd. While this approach worked well initially, the development of the cows led to entirely new challenges for the farm. With the shift to organic farming, the focus increasingly turned to the herd's resilience. Longevity and lifetime production became crucial factors for Tanja Beuel.
The feeling that the Black and White genetics were leading them down the wrong path grew stronger. Quietly and unnoticed, a few Norwegian Red-cross cows introduced years earlier began reminding them of what they were truly seeking for their farm. This led Ralf and Tanja to decide to go "back to the roots" and harness the old, new potential.
Performance Boost with New Challenges
The Beuel family's farm is located at the edge of the Eifel region. Due to its elevation, grassland dominates the farm's fields. A total of 100 hectares are available for grazing and mowing. These natural conditions have always meant that milk production is based on a high proportion of pasture and forage. When Ralf Beuel took over the farm from his father in 1998, the herd consisted of old Red Holsteins, with a milk yield of just 5,000 liters without concentrate feed. To boost production, he decided to introduce Black and White genetics.
The semen primarily came from the USA. While milk production increased as expected, the Black and White genetics brought new problems over time. The cows became more prone to illness and significantly larger.
What most dairy farmers would consider desirable posed considerable challenges for the Beuel farm. Over time, the cows no longer fit in the stalls built in 1975. Space also became tight in the milking parlor. Another issue emerged: the herd became less suitable for grazing, as the heavier animals increasingly caused damage to the pasture.
Polled Norwegian Reds Meet Holsteins
As the problems gradually escalated, Tanja Beuel happened to notice the nearly ten-year-old Norwegian Red-cross cows still present in the herd. These cows came from a trial crossbreeding program. However, the focus of breeding at the time was almost entirely on increasing milk production, so Ralf Beuel did not pursue the Norwegian Reds further.
But what impressed Tanja was that these Norwegian Reds had been quietly and robustly increasing their lifetime production over the years, eventually reaching the 100,000 kg mark—a feat no other cow on the Beuel farm had achieved. "That was the moment I told my husband: Ralf, these are the cows we actually want!"
The fact that some Norwegian Red lines naturally produce cows that are on average 8 cm shorter is a significant advantage for the Beuels. Since they have been farming organically, their focus has shifted even more toward sustainability. For Tanja Beuel, this means keeping the replacement rate as low as possible through long productive lifespans. "This only works if the animals are healthy, especially in terms of udder and hoof health," says Tanja, who handles the farm's inseminations.
The Norwegian Red breeding program has long prioritized these traits, focusing on udder and hoof health, as well as disease resistance, alongside milk production. Fertility and easy calving are other key traits, with a fertility index of 16 being particularly noteworthy. Tanja adds, "Another advantage for us as an organic farm is that over 30% of the calves are born polled." Since organic farms cannot dehorn animals, this reduces the risk of injury.
In their search for suitable genetic material, the couple quickly found Hybrid Genetics. In early 2023, Tanja Beuel began inseminating the first cows with semen from the bulls Yogibear PP, Forrin PP, and Aland PP. Now that the first calves have been born since their decision to switch to Norwegian Red genetics, the farm managers are eager to see how their new breeding path will pay off.
"Looking back, we would have been better off if we had chosen Norwegian genetics instead of Black and White from the start," concludes Ralf Beuel. The robust animals are simply a better fit for the organic farming and grazing concept. The two cow experts aim to maintain the current milk production of 9,000 liters while experiencing significantly fewer health problems and are thus optimistic about the future.
Farm Profile: Beuel Organic Farm
• Location: Simmerath, NRW Eifel
• Organic farm since 2017
• 170 hectares, 100 hectares of grassland
• 150 dairy cows plus replacements
• Average milk production: 9,000 liters
