The Menoud family welcomed almost 13,000 visitors on June 20 and 21 to Ferme La Lorraine in Rueyres-Treyfayes (Gruyère). It was an opportunity for the public to discover the largest dairy farm in the canton of Fribourg - a showcase for tomorrow's agriculture, combining high technology, sustainability and family tradition.
Record attendance
"Wewere expecting a lot of visitors, but not such a huge turnout. There was a queue in front of the entrance and the parking lots were full,"says Patricia Menoud. More than 6,000 visitors a day stroll the aisles of this new dairy hub, inaugurated a few months ago after two years' work and an investment of 10 million francs.
The open house program attracted a large audience: guided tours, milking demonstrations, a 1,400-seat canteen, children's activities... All orchestrated by the Menoud family, their farming partners and an army of volunteers.
A model farm
La Lorraine Farm impresses with its size and modernity:
- 350 free-stall cows in three breeds (Holstein, Red Holstein, Jersey)
- A 50-seat milking carousel
- A 24,000-litre tank
- Feeding and scraping robots
- And above all, 8,000m² of solar panels, some for self-consumption
"We've thought of everything to lighten the workload, improve animal comfort and limit our energy footprint,"explains Daniel. Automation makes for smoother operation: a robot brings in feed, cleans the aisles, and milking can be done by two people.
Irish inspiration
Lorraine wasn't built on a whim. Daniel Menoud drew inspiration for the design of an efficient, rational and resilient farm from several professional trips, notably to Ireland. "We visited large-scale farms that were very well managed, with a focus on labor savings and animal welfare. It was a real source of ideas."
The objective is clear: reach 4 million kilos of milk per year, with a model centered on industrial production (excluding Gruyère PDO), in a preserved environment.
A family adventure
Behind this impressive tool, there's a couple, two children, and a long-standing passion. "We're proud to show that it's possible to invest in the future of agriculture here in Gruyère. And to do it as a family. The calm that reigns in the stables surprises visitors: "You get the impression that the animals are more relaxed than before," remarks Daniel with a smile.
A message for the future
Beyond the technical demonstration, the open house was a moment of shared pride. Farmers, neighbors, families, curious onlookers and tourists discovered a farm where innovation is at the service of a profession rooted in the region.
