Dalsgaard & Barsøe

Ambitious biodynamic enterprise

Best friends Nikolaj and Andreas jointly operate the biodynamic farm Dalsgaard & Barsøe, which hosts organic chickens at Skyttegaarden and biodynamic cattle at Eliselund in Southern Jutland. They also cultivate a variety of biodynamic crops.

At Eliselund, Dalsgaard & Barsøe have about 250 biodynamic cattle that play a crucial role in Nikolaj and Andreas' biodynamic crops such as oats and spelt.

Cattle ensure humus and fertility

Dalsgaard & Barsøe operates based on the biodynamic cycle philosophy, where the interaction between animals, soil, and plants is central. For instance, various compost preparations are added to the soil to enhance soil fertility. The dung from the cattle is vital as it helps nurture and build the soil's humus content and fertility.

The biodynamic cattle - Holstein cows crossed with beef cattle - are allowed to roam the fields around Eliselund for an extended period, where they grow as large as possible. At least 2 and a half years before the animals are slaughtered on the farm, and the meat is processed at Eat My Pig before landing at some of the country's best restaurants.

Popular biodynamic crops

The biodynamic grains, such as oats and spelt, from the fields, are sold to the bakery Aurion in Hjørring, specializing in biodynamic and organic ingredients. The organic and biodynamic flour from the cattle's areas is in high demand.

Organic chickens

Nikolaj and Andreas also keep organic Hubbard chickens, which grow up in the best possible environment and live up to 100 days. The chickens are day old when they arrive, and eat and drink for the first time down at Nikolaj and Andreas, who have heated the barn up to 36 degrees, which corresponds to the temperature under the mother hen's breast. Here, the chickens get organic feed, among other things of Dalsgaard & Barsøe's own grain.

Organic chickens feed on fallen fruit

The chickens grow big in a barn, where the heat is gradually lowered to 20+ degrees and on the veranda and in the chicken coop, where there are fun toys. The farm is planted with fruit trees and poplars - i.a. apples, plums and pears - and it is, as Andreas Barsøe says, "a damn good combination, because the chickens love fallen fruit".

First, after 74-100 days, the chickens are gently captured by hand, before being slaughtered at the farm's mobile slaughterhouse by Nikolaj, Andreas and their helpers.