Gazdovský dvor, Slovakia

Gazdovský dvor is a certified organic sheep dairy in Slovakia, nestled in the foothills of the Malá Fatra National Park in the Turiec region. The agrosalaš — a traditional Slovak shepherd’s cottage dairy — keeps flocks of sheep and goats on organic pastures classified under the EU ecological regime, which means every drop of milk, and every product made from it, carries the hallmark of genuine organic quality. The dairy meets the full production and hygiene standards of the European Union while deliberately preserving all traditional production methods — a balance that has earned its cheeses official certification from the Slovak Ministry of Agriculture as traditional specialities.

Visitors to Gazdovský dvor are warmly invited to witness the entire cheesemaking process first-hand. The farm offers agritourism services including accommodation, a children’s mini zoo, facilities for tourists and cyclists, and a regular small jazz festival — making it as much a destination as a dairy. From the šaláš shop, guests can take home smoked or fresh cheese, žinčica poured fresh into their own jug, or a portion of authentic salašnícka bryndza.

In 2024, the dairy invested in a complete set of Plevnik equipment. The Plevnik cheese kettle SKH 100 EW PRO is the centrepiece of the operation, supported by cheese moulds, manual cheese harps, a cheese press POS 50, a yoghurt fermentation cabinet OZF 720, a butter churn PJ 13, and a separator 315. Together, this full processing line allows the team to handle every stage of production — from milk separation and fermentation through to pressing, churning, and finishing — entirely in-house, with consistent quality across a wide and traditional product range.

“We are helped by high-quality machines from Plevnik.”
— Gazdovský dvor