The heart of CRV’s Holstein breeding programme is in Wirdum in Friesland, the Netherlands. CRV’s Dairy Breeding Center is home to some 400 young female animals with the highest genetic predisposition for health and efficiency. They have been chosen from among very best animals in the European Holstein population and are used as donors for the breeding programme. The next generation of bulls and bull dams will be selected from the calves produced by their embryos.

Watch the video below for an impression of our Dairy Breeding Center.

CRV’s test farms

CRV has 10 dairy farms in the Nederlands and Flanders. These test farms have a vital role to play in the breeding programme.

When they are pregnant, the donors are transferred from the DBC to one of the test farms. Here, they give birth to their first calves and have the opportunity to prove their genetic potential. The CRV test farms are commercial dairy farms which, in addition to their own animals, take in 15 heifers from the breeding programme each year. In this way the dams and grand dams of the bulls in CRV’s portfolio are extensively trialled in practical conditions. There are numerous cows that originate from the CRV breeding programme on these test farms that have produced 100,000kg of milk.

Watch the video below for an impression of our test farms.

In addition to the DBC and the various test farms, CRV also has a number of production locations.

CRV’s production site/bulls facility in Harfsen

CRV’s facility for bulls in Harfsen has been extensively renovated. At the semen production site in Harfsen, 100 bulls can now be housed in comfortable, deep litter pens that measure 27 square metres. These pens have been designed to maximize animal welfare. Mechanisation has been introduced and the barns also feature special UV lighting and a climate control system.

Watch the video below for an impression of our production site in Harfsen and read more about this location.

CRV’s production site in Giekerk

This site is home to 80 production bulls. This barn was renovated in 2016 to make it future proof. The barns are designed an equipped for optimal animal welfare. This site is also equipped with UV-light and a climate control system. CRV is the only herd improvement organization in the world to use such a system.

Watch the video below for an impression of our production site in Giekerk.

Would you like some more information about CRV? Read more about CRV or use to buttons below to find a representative in your region or to request more information via our contact form.