Download Opportunities for dairy farming

Opportunities for dairy farming
'Wageningen UR knows the ins and outs of dairy farming'
Paul Witlox, Dutch Dairy Board
Wageningen UR Livestock Research fosters a
network of European dairy farmers.
economic performance of dairy farms. The amount of
fertilizer used by the participating dairy farms has dropped
tremendously, without any loss in yields. This project will
Challenge
help the dairy sector to use farm-specific management
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Dutch
and solutions, including ‘BEX’ (farm-specific excretion).
Dairy Board requested Wageningen UR to set up a project
It also provided the government with reliable data,
which would provide reliable data to evaluate and facilitate
facilitating receiving a derogation from the EU.
efficiency on dairy farms and the implementation of environThe project has been an important initiative, fostering
mental legislation.
the foundation of the inter-regional European Dairyman
Solution
network, which focuses on strengthening rural com-
Wageningen UR Livestock Research and Plant Research
munities by improving farm resource management in a
International have set up a Dutch project, Cows & Oppor-
profitable way. This network includes participating
tunities, in which they act as leading partners. The project
organizations from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg,
involves the participation of 16 dairy farmers, an experi-
France, the UK, Ireland and Germany.
mental farm and various consultancy organizations.
Partners
De Marke Experimental Farm is evaluating measures that
Wageningen UR Livestock Research
it has implemented to reduce nitrate and phosphorous
Plant Research International Wageningen UR
leaching and greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions. This
LEI Wageningen UR
research farm measures and evaluates all the inputs and
De Marke Experimental Farm
outputs from its dairy cattle production. Positive results are
16 dairy farmers
expected to provide strong indicators for possible ways to
DLV
attain environmental goals. To evaluate the economic
Agrifirm
aspects of these scientific findings, 16 Dutch farms
Alfa Accountants
(situated in sand, clay, peat and loess regions) are also
Pijnenburg advies
participating in the project. All the farmers are closely
PPP Agro advies
cooperating with relevant consultancy agencies in the field.
Results and impact
Project website
www.koeienenkansen.nl (in Dutch)
The project has identified various feasible ways and
www.interregdairyman.eu
measures to improve the environmental and also
Contact
Wageningen UR Livestock Research
Michel de Haan
PO Box 65
T +31 (0)320 293 412
8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
E [email protected]
www.wageningenUR.nl/livestockresearch