Kreischa celebrates: Germany's first cow garden sets standards for animal welfare!

Kreischa celebrates: Germany's first cow garden sets standards for animal welfare!

The first “cow garden” in Germany was officially inaugurated in Kreischa on June 20, 2025. This innovative facility, operated by Dresdner Vorgebirgs Agrar AG, was presented by Saxony's Agriculture Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbruch. At the opening, he emphasized the importance of this project for animal welfare, digitalization and climate protection.

The stable covers an area of ​​around 10,000 square meters and offers space for around 630 dairy cows and 150 calves. The construction work is in its final phase; The stable construction concept was highly praised for its animal-friendly approach. Thanks to a special roof construction and open side walls, daylight and fresh air can penetrate unhindered. This helps reduce heat stress for the animals and creates a comfortable stable climate that is aimed at cows' well-being. The stable is also equipped with a so-called “High Wellfare Floor”, which provides a soft and moisture-permeable surface on which urine and feces are separated from each other to reduce ammonia emissions.

State-of-the-art technology for animal husbandry

The innovative robotic technology used for milking, feeding and manure removal has already been delivered. This is intended to significantly improve working conditions for employees and enable flexible shift models. The entire concept is based on a Dutch model from 2015 and is specifically tailored to the natural needs of the cows. Each animal has more than 12 square meters of free-roaming space, which promotes species-appropriate housing conditions and increases the animals' quality of life.

But the path to the “Kuhgarten” was not always easy. Legal disputes with the municipality ensured that the start of construction was delayed by a year, despite all the permits in place. The increased interest rates have also driven up investment costs. Nevertheless, the agricultural company is optimistic that the project can make a significant contribution to the further development of agriculture in the region. Sustainably managed husbandry like this is not only seen as economically sensible, but also as necessary in order to assume ethical and ecological responsibility in livestock farming.

Benefits for humans and animals

In the context of animal welfare and sustainable agriculture, the “cow garden” is a promising example. Improved husbandry conditions mean better quality of life and health for the animals and also contribute to the production of high-quality products. Species-appropriate housing systems that offer sufficient space and freedom of movement are crucial. In addition, cows in their new home have access to fresh drinking water and high-quality feed, which is essential for their well-being. In the long term, this type of animal husbandry promotes consumer awareness of conscious purchasing decisions, valued through certifications of farms that comply with animal welfare criteria.

Overall, it can be seen that the people of Cologne are heading towards a new era of livestock breeding, which not only improves the conditions for the animals, but also benefits people. With the new cow garden in Kreischa, we are setting a new standard in Saxony that could make waves in Germany. This initiative could serve as a blueprint for other regions that also have an interest in sustainable agriculture. A forward-looking development that shows: There is definitely something going on here.