Vaud: The Urben family combines prices with its Holstein cows

He is of those passions which are naturally transmitted from generation to generation. At the Urben, in Pré-de-la-Chaux, at Applesit is that of cows holstein and breeding. “We’re talking about it all the time, we’re fans,” smiles Alain Urben with a smile.

Seated in the kitchen with his son, Kilian, he explains how the Holstein entered his life. “My father had simmers and turned to the Holstein in the late 1970s because they produced more milk.” And his son to specify: “A cow produces about 30 liters of milk per day is the dairy breed par excellence, worldwide!”

If breeding was obvious for both from an early age, he took another dimension in 2007, when Alain decided to build a new farm and associate with Kurt Bühler, a farmer from the neighboring village of Yens. “We worked everyone in aging buildings so we decided to get together to build something new,” says Alain Urben.

Ultimate reward

Thanks to a brand new farm, the partners and their herd of 55 cows were recently congratulated by the profession by winning the prestigious master-breeder price, which crowns a career. “It is a title that is awarded by a system of points allocated to the cows. They must be beautiful and give milk. And it is an addition that is done over sixteen years, it is therefore a great recognition of all our work, “comments Alain Urben, expressing” an incredible emotion “.

Because raising Holstein is working over years in order to obtain optimal dairy production thanks to a rigorous genetic selection. “We define a breeding goal over several years,” explains Kilian Urben. We are trying to have cows with good members, beautiful well -attached udders who produce milk. And depending on our wishes, we select a bull from hundreds identified for the genetic skills that satisfy us best. ”

Successful

To confirm their choices, the Urben lend themselves several times a year to the game of competitions, allowing to “be in relation to the whole of the profession”, details Alain Urben. Kilian was also crowned with his heifer Paris During the Holstein Junior Beer Expo championship at the beginning of the month. “These are always nice moments that allow us to exchange with colleagues. Even if we always hope to beat them at the time of the verdict, ”concludes the young man with a smile.

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