Usually, when people in the farming industry speak of precision farming they are referring to establishments that specialize in arable farming. But it seems that the dairy industry could also benefit to a great extent from using precision techniques, according to Dr. Mark Rutter from Harper Adams University. In fact, Dr. Rutter believes the dairy sector could become a crucial part of the precision farming method, and that it could have a big impact on productivity, the welfare of cows and even on pollution levels.
What This Means for Dairy Farming
Of course, some technology is already being used on dairy farms. This includes automated feeding and milking, as well as the measurement of rumination and foot health and the monitoring of when cows come into oestrus. But according to Dr. Rutter, there are a variety of opportunities for new technology to be implemented on dairy farms to increase efficiency and productivity. They also have certain vehicles that then transport the milk at the right place at a decent speed. The farmers can keep an eye on this by installing Vehicle Tracking systems which can be found at sites including www.vehicle-accessories.net/vehicle-tracking/.
One of the ways precision methods can be incorporated is through the use of smart housing. Studies have shown that cows with access to both indoor and outdoor living spaces yield more milk. By creating ‘reactive’ buildings, with certain controls, movement sensors, and temperature sensors, cows will be able to experience a more comfortable living environment with ventilation being controlled according to their requirements.
Another way is through the use of precision grazing, which is an excellent way of managing grassland. First, the available forage must be measured and then compared to the needs of the cows to work out which area of pasture the cows can have access to and for how long. Robotic fences and time-release gates will be key to this precision method of feeding and both activity monitors and bioacoustic monitoring will also be used.
To learn more about precision farming and how it can be utilized in the dairy farming industry check out http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/initiatives/national-centre-precision-farming) and http://www.delavalcorporate.com/milk-matters/the-industry/precision-dairy-farming–what-does-it-mean-and-what-is-available/).
Improving Technologies
With farmers reliant on effective dairy processing machinery it’s predicted that companies see the increased business through sales and company surplus.
As with so many other industries in the 21st century, dairy farming is having to modernize and adapt its techniques to promote efficiency and it looks like precision farming is the way forward.
