Het Stroomdal sheep herd can expect several thousand euros in subsidies for their herd of heath cows. The subsidy comes from the Dinamo Fund, to strengthen the population of heath cows in the Netherlands.
This is necessary, because the Dutch heath cow became extinct in the late 1930s. But the animal has been back in the Netherlands since 2006, after a breed of heath cow from Denmark that is genetically similar to the extinct Dutch Heath Cattle was introduced here. Since 2014, a number of them have been walking on the heath near the Strubben- and Kniphorstbosch near Schipborg. The Netherlands has about 150 in total. That is very few if you want to set up a sustainable breeding program.
Heath cows are different from conventional dairy cows. They can rather be compared to naturally living mammals such as deer, hares and squirrels and become completely part of the natural system. Because unlike most cows, the animal can live very well on poor soil. They are very effective in combating young trees and shrubs plus grasses that grow faster in nature and heathland areas due to nitrogen depletion. And because they are winter-hardy, they can remain outside during all seasons and search for their own food in the areas.
The Dinamo Fund has awarded 23,500 euros to the herds of Sheep Herd Het Stroomdal, Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen, Het Limburgs Landschap, Landschap Overijssel and livestock farmer Van der Zwaag. This amount is intended for vaccinations, veterinarian, food and other measures. This concerns a total of 77 heath cows that together graze 3,000 hectares of nature and heathland areas.
“Selecting these projects will strengthen the population of heath cows as a special breed and stimulate the use of the heath cow in our cultural landscape. In the long term, this historic natural grazer can take the place of the Scottish Highlander or Galloway cattle,” says Henk Atze Dijkstra , director of the Dinamo Fund.