Young farmer with 1150 dairy cattle: This is how I keep development going

Morten Dalby Jensen, who runs Østerbygaard, has an ambition to be among the best milk producers in the country. When the inspiration for new initiatives needs to be found, the young farmer looks towards Fredericia and the NutriFair fair for livestock producers.

At Østerbygaard near Hovborg in South Jutland, the young farmer Morten Dalby Jensen and his girlfriend, Luliana Mihaela Dinica, have something big going on. The farm now houses 1150 Jersey yearling cows, and the number has risen sharply since 2018, when Morten moved in with his then significantly smaller herd.

Today, there are 15 full-time employees who, together with the couple, manage 600 hectares of land, 200 of which are leased. Morten and his girlfriend, whom he calls Miki, are both only 34 years old, but they already have a lot of experience with cattle farming. First from Morten's first farm in his hometown Sunds, and now in Hovborg. One thing has been consistent since the beginning – the desire to constantly become better and more skilled.

"If you don't develop, you stand still. When you want to get better at what you do, it is important to have a place where you can find inspiration and acquire new knowledge. In recent years, NutriFair in Fredericia has become that place for me," explains Morten Dalby Jensen.

Morten Dalby Jensen is looking forward to going to NutriFair. Here he can both find new inspiration for his business and meet colleagues and business partners.

Need for inspiration for development

For the young dairy farmer, however, it is not only the size of the herd that he wants to develop on his farm. If measures can be taken to strengthen the business, Morten Dalby will pursue them. It can be anything from minimizing medication consumption in the stock to improving conditions for his employees.

"If you want to be a skilled farmer, it is absolutely essential that you have your finger on the pulse. This applies to everything from keeping up to date with what new products are being developed to following what new measures other farmers are taking," points out Morten Dalby Jensen.

For a busy farmer like Morten Dalby Jensen, there is usually no time to be away from the farm for too long.

"At NutriFair, I can meet and have a chat with business partners and colleagues in one day, if I arrive in good time. It's easy to understand, and a lot of what's at the fair is relevant to a milk producer like me," he says, and continues: "I'm the type of person who - if I need something - I contact the dealers the. NutriFair is good at inspiring me, so that I can later get hold of the dealer in question, who does exactly what I'm missing."

Networking and new learning outside of the busy season

In addition to the concrete solutions he has found at NutriFair, Morten Dalby Jensen also greatly appreciates the industry colleagues he meets.

"The social aspect - networking and knowledge sharing - is probably the most important thing for me. This is where I meet colleagues from all over the country, with whom I can share experiences. We learn from each other, and that makes me a better farmer," explains Morten Dalby Jensen.

NutriFair takes place in January, which fits perfectly into the calendar at Østerbygaard.

"It is a time when we have the opportunity to breathe and focus on development. It makes it easy to prioritize leaving," concludes Morten Dalby Jensen.

What is NutriFair?

On 15 and 16 January 2025, agriculture's frontrunners and decision-makers will meet at the NutriFair trade fair. You can pick up your free ticket HERE.

NutriFair is Denmark's trade fair for livestock. At the fair you can meet more than 200 exhibitors, all of whom are specialists in supplies and advice for livestock production in Denmark. There is therefore a guarantee of meeting someone who develops exactly what you are missing in your business.

It is also an opportunity to network with your industry peers, who will also be present in Fredericia d. 15 and 16 January.

At the fair there are as many as three specialized stages with exciting programs within the themes: Cattle, pigs, poultry, energy/climate.

NutriFair takes place in Messe C in Fredericia, where both access to the fair and parking are free.