The Rural Voice, 2005-04, Page 26Making work a
pleasure
Both the cows and the people are
happb in Bert and Susan Buffinga's
new freestall dairg barn.
Story and photos
by Keith Roulston
For Bert and Susan Buffinga, building a new freestall
barn wasn't the realization of a long-time dream. The
dream has come in operating it.
The couple have had nearly a year and a half in their
new barn and the spacious, bright building makes going to
work a pleasure, they say.
"It's so quiet," Bert says. "There are no fans running, no
chains rattling."
"The cattle are so contented that they don't pay much
attention to you unless you sweep some feed to them,"
adds Susan.
It's quite a change for Bert who had known nothing but
the tie -stall operation in the old bank barn since he was 16.
He came to Canada from Holland with his parents in 1968.
That year they bought the farm where Susan's parents had
run a cow -calf operation. With the family planning that
Bert would one day be involved in the operation they
realized dairy was their best opportunity. In those early
days of supply management, quota wasn't an expensive
22 THE RURAL VOICE
Bert and Susan Buffinga find work in their new double -
eight herringbone parlour (above) easier than their old
tie -stall operation while curtain -walls make the barn
brighter and give good ventilation (below).