Description
The farmer Piet Jan Thibaudier from the northern part of the Netherlands, in the province Friesland, is feeding his cows with the zero grazing system. He bought a pasture reader to be able to mow every day the right amount of fresh grass for his cows.
The pasture reader is built on the front mower and measures exactly the amount of grass. With the use of light reflection the density and the dry matter content of the grass is determined. The pasture reader is used together with GPS for mapping his meadows with the data form the pasture reader.
Reason for the innovation
The strategy of the farmer is based on a flatter milk production curve of his cows with the zero grazing system. He bought a pasture reader.
- Achievements: flatter milk production curve with zero grazing
- Failures: high purchase costs
- Constraints: a useful management tool
- Results: data to optimize his grassland management
Farm description
Environment
- Soil: Clay and peat
- Climate: Temperate oceanic
- Altitude: ±sea level
- Slope: flat
Grassland management
- Grazing: No
- Grazing management: zero grazing
- Main composition grassland: Perennial ryegrass
Structure
- Annual work units (AWU): 2
- Agricultural Area 100 ha UAA
- Permanent grassland 100 ha
- Production method: Conventional
- Stock
- 195 dairy cows
- 85 young stock
- Breed Holstein-Friesian
Animal performance
- Milk production: 8500 kg/year
Why it is working
The innovation is successful on this farm because:
- The farmer is interested in modern technology and data.
- The motivation from the farmer to optimize his farm management.
- The usefulness of the collected data.
