Robotic Milking and Grazing: Albertine Ekkels’ Approach

Albertine Ekkels (35) is a dairy farmer in Nijeveen, in the southwest of the Dutch province of Drenthe. The farm is home to around 70 dairy cows and 50 head of youngstock. In addition, the farm has a self-service farm shop and keeps sheep for grazing. Albertine previously introduced herself and her farm in an introductory video.

With the wide range of activities on the farm, efficient labour management is important. This was one of the reasons they opted for a milking robot, allowing the workload associated with milking to be spread more evenly throughout the day. At the same time, they have deliberately chosen to continue grazing their cows. This gives the cows the opportunity to spend time outdoors and graze fresh grass.

So how do you make sure the cows go outside while also returning to the robot on time? In the video, Albertine explains their approach and the adjustments they have made. She also shares the opportunities and challenges she sees in combining robotic milking with grazing.

Watch the full video.