Swedish Lessons for Dutch Robotic Farmers: Grazing and Technology go hand in hand

Sweden is a pioneer in robotic milking and the only country in the EU where grazing is legally required. Since 1988, Swedish law has mandated grazing, supported by a widely accepted social norm. Not only dairy cows but also youngstock from six months old must go outside. Interestingly, the law does not require cows to actually consume grass—it’s about access to pasture. Many Swedish farms therefore have a simple exercise paddock. Yet, there are also highly committed grazers who manage to achieve many grazing hours. These farms prove that robotic milking and grazing can go hand in hand.

Last month, four Dutch dairy farmers—the winners of the study trip—visited four Swedish dairy farms. There, it became clear that cows can easily graze outdoors while being milked by robots. The result? New experiences, surprising insights, and renewed confidence in the power of automation combined with grazing.

Smart Automation
At the farms visited, it was evident that automation does not have to be an obstacle to grazing. Quite the opposite. Smart use of technologies such as smart gates, rotational grazing plots, guided cow traffic, and effective grassland management makes it possible for cows to graze voluntarily and efficiently—even on rocky soils and during Sweden’s short growing season.

Inspiration and Insights
The Dutch dairy farmers already had experience with robotic milking and grazing themselves, but the visit to Sweden offered new inspiration:

• Legal or social norms can stimulate innovation, especially in grazing systems.
• Grazing youngstock adds significant value—early experience is essential for successful grazing with robots later on.
• Smart infrastructure and careful planning are essential in combination with robotic milking.
• High-quality pasture and frequent allocation of fresh grazing paddocks receive a lot of attention.
• When you feed very little in the barn, cows are truly motivated to graze and feed themselves with fresh grass.

Inspiration and Insights
The Dutch dairy farmers already had experience with robotic milking and grazing themselves. The visit to Sweden gave them the following insights:

• Legal or social norms can stimulate innovation, especially in grazing systems.
• Grazing youngstock adds significant value—early experience is essential for successful grazing with robots later on.
• Smart infrastructure and careful planning are essential in combination with robotic milking.
• High-quality pasture and frequent allocation of fresh grazing paddocks receive a lot of attention.
• When you feed very little in the barn, cows are truly motivated to graze and feed themselves with fresh grass.

Dairy farmers share their experiences
Video footage was recorded during the study trip. Curious to see the footage? Click on the link and find all four videos on YouTube.

Melkveehouders aan het woord
Video footage was taken during the study trip. Curious to see the footage? Watch below to see the four winners of the study trip!