About the project

The project Robot and Meadows? For Each Other! Is an initiative of the working group More Meadows.

The Dutch livestock industry has a task to reduce nitrogen (ammonia). Sector parties within the dairy farming industry are focusing on source measures, with working groups active, such as the group Meerweiden. Grazing contributes to ammonia reduction. Cattle in the pasture do not manure in the barn, so there is less manure in the cellar. During grazing, urine and manure are separated. Ammonia is only formed when urine is mixed with manure.

Increasing the number of grazing hours leads to less ammonia emission. For the source measure More grazing, funds have been reserved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) to carry out projects and campaigns aimed at achieving more grazing.

More grazing, less ammonia emission

Grazing contributes to ammonia reduction. Cattle in the pasture do not manure in the barn, so there is less manure in the cellar. During grazing, urine and manure are separated. Ammonia is only formed when urine is mixed with manure. Increasing the number of grazing hours leads to less ammonia emission.

For the source measure More grazing, funds have been reserved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) to carry out projects and campaigns aimed at achieving more grazing. The project duration is from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027.

Thirty-three percent of dairy farms milk with an AMS (Automatic Milking System, or robot) and this is expected to increase in the future. Grazing with robots is considered challenging. The increasing number of farms with a robot poses a risk to grazing.

One-way Traffic

There is knowledge about the combination of grazing and robots, however, this information is fragmented, not up to date, and does not reach the farms in the right way. Knowledge also needs to be more aligned with farming practices. Currently, there is too much one-way traffic from farm visitors or suppliers towards the dairy farmers.

The intention is that the dairy farmer does not become a robot themselves, but remains an independent, autonomous entrepreneur who is perfectly capable of asking for and/or sharing knowledge. For each other!
This aspect is central to the project.

The project ‘Robot & Grazing? Let's do it!’ is an initiative of the Working Group Meerweiden and is carried out by NAJK, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, and Network GRONDig.