The dairy at Nyvang is a partial replica of the cooperative dairy from the village of Søstrup near Holbæk. In 1930, the dairy had 65 suppliers with 500 cows, producing 1.55 million kg of milk and nearly 64,000 kg of butter. In 1931, the staff at Søstrup Cooperative Dairy consisted of the dairy manager, one dairyman, one apprentice, one inspector, and five drivers from the suppliers. The dairy operated until 1968, when it was dismantled and partially rebuilt in Nyvang. New materials had to be added, and original machinery was sourced from various other cooperative dairies.
The cooperative dairy was one of the most important institutions of the cooperative movement. Farmers pooled their resources to invest in a dairy where they supplied the milk themselves, shared profits (and risks), and made decisions democratically. Decisions were made "by heads, not heads of cattle," meaning each member had an equal vote, regardless of how many cows they owned.
The first cooperative dairy was established in Hjedding, in Southwest Jutland, in 1882. By 1894, there were already 907 cooperative dairies nationwide. By 1909, this number had risen to 1,163. Initially, it was primarily the larger farmers who embraced the idea, but smallholders soon followed suit.
The dairy at Nyvang is a partial replica of the cooperative dairy from the village of Søstrup near Holbæk. In 1930, the dairy had 65 suppliers with 500 cows, producing 1.55 million kg of milk and nearly 64,000 kg of butter. In 1931, the staff at Søstrup Cooperative Dairy consisted of the dairy manager, one dairyman, one apprentice, one inspector, and five drivers from the suppliers. The dairy operated until 1968, when it was dismantled and partially rebuilt in Nyvang. New materials had to be added, and original machinery was sourced from various other cooperative dairies.
The cooperative dairy was one of the most important institutions of the cooperative movement. Farmers pooled their resources to invest in a dairy where they supplied the milk themselves, shared profits (and risks), and made decisions democratically. Decisions were made "by heads, not heads of cattle," meaning each member had an equal vote, regardless of how many cows they owned.
The first cooperative dairy was established in Hjedding, in Southwest Jutland, in 1882. By 1894, there were already 907 cooperative dairies nationwide. By 1909, this number had risen to 1,163. Initially, it was primarily the larger farmers who embraced the idea, but smallholders soon followed suit.
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