“Wild growth is important for plants and animals”
Not only wild animals and plants enjoy Marcel Peek's farm, but his organic sheep and calves also have plenty of space. On the 16 hectares of natural land, the lambs have more space than they would on a conventional livestock farm. Sufficient space for the animals is a key requirement in organic farming.
"The sheep love lazing around under the pollard willow. And some grasses are a real treat for the young cattle." As soon as the weather permits, Marcel's animals go outside. "It's a real treat for the livestock. You can see them enjoying themselves! The lambs, in particular, run through the entire pasture. It sometimes feels like a competition."
Marcel Peek's sheep are a cross between Swifters and Texels. "The Swifter is an efficient breed," he says. "They're good mothers. The Texel has better meat. Because of its strong muscles, the meat doesn't get fatty as quickly. This is important because as organic farmers, we keep the lambs longer than in the conventional sector. And organic or not, you still have to supply meat that the butcher can sell. At the end of their lives, I personally take the lambs to a local slaughterhouse. My organic lamb is known for being tender. Why? Organic farming offers peace of mind," Marcel explains. "It's smaller-scale, peaceful; everything simply moves a bit slower. The grass grows more slowly and gets longer. We really give nature time here. My lambs are truly part of the circle of life, which is necessary to maintain everything. They hardly experience any stress, and they live in harmony with the other animals here on the farm."
