Arnaud, dairy farmer in Alsace

Initially, there were two farms: a dairy farm and a tobacco farm, but they eventually concentrated on milk production. The choice made by his grandfather in the 1990s was definitely the best one. A passionate and fascinating interview... Enjoy!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Arnaud and I'm 31 years of age.

I've been working on the farm with my parents since 2010. We specialise in dairy and cereal production. I took over 30% of the company when I arrived eight years ago.

When my parents retire, we'll look at it again. Perhaps my little brother will come and set up in business with me. We'd love that! And being two means that the pace is less intense...

You know, even if you're passionate about your work, it's hard to work non-stop, 365 days a year. And no, we don't get five weeks' paid holiday. Someone has to be there at Christmas, New Year, Easter... We don't get a break. So, teaming up with my brother would be ideal, so that we could take turns with things and go on holiday from time to time.

Can you tell us more about your passion for milk?

Dairy farming has been in our family since my grandfather's generation. In 1990, there were two farms. My parents decided to keep the dairy farm rather than the tobacco farm. I'm very happy about that because milk has a better reputation than tobacco.

Another positive point is that milk production continues even in winter, unlike tobacco. And finally, what I love most of all about my job is being in contact with my cows all year round.

What are the advantages of your job?

I work for myself. That's the biggest advantage. Obviously, you have to manage things properly and not do just anything, otherwise your finances will plummet.

Getting up in the morning and being able to say that I'm my own boss fills me with joy and motivation. I couldn't see myself in an office all day. I love being in the open air and being active! Even so, it is a physical job.

Have you noticed any changes in your job since you started?

Although I've only been here eight years, I think that the relationship with animal welfare and people's views on the subject have changed. We don't hurt the animals and I can tell you that they're well fed and there's plenty of it! They're not out in the fields, but we do pamper them.

How many cows do you have on the farm?

We have 75 cows and about 60 calves to replace them. Around three quarters of our cows are Montbéliardes and a quarter Prim'Holsteins. The Montbéliardes come from my grandfather's time.

I like to keep this breed because they are more hardy. I find they're more resilient. They are less athletic and less fragile than Prim'Holsteins. The only drawback is that you just need to have a bit more patience. Because they produce a little less milk and are a bit more stubborn sometimes.

On average, each cow produces 28 litres of milk a day.

Do you have any advice for young people wanting to enter the profession?

Yes. It's best not to go into this profession if you're not passionate about it.
But being a dairy farmer also means being open-minded enough to be aware of what's going on outside the farm. This allows us to see where we could improve. As we often work alone, it's not always easy to realise this.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

I start my day at 7 am. I have to do the milking and feeding the young at the same time. Milking takes about two hours and then I spend one hour cleaning up.
During the day, I tend the various crops outside, I look after the calves, that sort of thing.

In the evening, it's back to milking and feeding the cows. In summer, we do that at 6 pm and in winter at 5 pm. So, I finish at 8 to 9 pm, once I've cleaned up afterwards. They are long days, but I love what I do.

Do you prefer whole milk or skimmed milk?

I like both, but I prefer whole milk. Naturally!

What can we hope for you for the future?

You can hope that I am able to continue making a living from my passion.

Arnaud, a young dairy farmer from Alsace