Hoeve Rust-hoff

Hoeve Rust-hoff is an organic dairy and beef farm on the Broekpolderweg near Maasland that keeps Blaarkop cattle, an old Dutch breed, for milk and beef.

According to the page of the cooperative Heerlijk van Dichtbij, which sells its produce, the cattle eat mainly herb-rich grass with a minimum of grain, sometimes some crushed grain, and dried herbs are added to their ration to keep them healthy without antibiotics; when an animal does fall ill it is treated first with herbs and homeopathy. The animals graze on nature land. Since 2020 the farm has sold under its own brand, Dwarrs, and the Blaarkoppen are kept for three uses, milk, meat and leather. The milk is sold pasteurised as whole milk, whole buttermilk, whole yoghurt, vanilla custard (vla) and kefir, all in one-litre bottles. The farm is certified organic (SKAL); we found the certificate in the register under the name Fa. Rust-hoff VOF at the farm's address.

The dairy is sold through the shops and outlets supplied by Heerlijk van Dichtbij. We couldn't find a way to buy at the farm itself, and how the beef reaches customers isn't stated.

The cows give only about 5,000 kg of milk a year each, and an ox takes two and a half to three years to reach slaughter weight.