A flexible data architecture to automate collection of (near) real-time methane sensor data at commercial dairy farms

To reduce methane emissions from the animal production domain, a large intensive research programme has been started in 2018 by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food. Part of this programme involves continuous monitoring of methane, by means of sensor measurements, both at the barn and ..

Inclusion Of The Spatial Dimension Of Population Data In Developing Policies For The Management Of AnGR –The Case Of The Heritage Sheep Breeds

The sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources is connected with the recognition of their contribution to the society and the environment and the assessment of the threats they are facing. The category of the heritage breeds, which are genetically distinct, geographically concentrated, adapted to their environment, commercially farmed to contribute to the local economy were considered in the frame of the HERITAGESHEEP project. The aim of this project was to deliver the potential of the heritage sheep breeds for a sustainable future for medium to low input production systems, which support local rural communities throughout Europe. This was achieved by addressing the conservation of these breeds, defining the current and future threats and developing new uses and markets for products

Roodbont Fries vee : adviezen voor opzetten fokprogramma

Het doel van dit onderzoek richt zich op het in kaart brengen van de demografische en genetische situatie van het Roodbont Fries Vee en het aandragen van bouwstenen voor een goed genetisch beheer. Aansluitende analyses zijn uitgevoerd om de haalbaarheid van een fundamentfokkerij in kaart te brengen. De demografische analyse gaf aan dat het aantal raszuivere Fries Roodbonten sterk is afgenomen sinds 1986. Momenteel worden er jaarlijks slechts 60 raszuivere Fries Roodbonte kalveren geboren. Dit heeft dan direct een impact op de genetische verwantschappen in de populatie. Om die goed in kaart te brengen, is het noodzakelijk dat de stamboom toch zeker minimaal 3 generaties teruggaat. Het absolute inteeltniveau van de populatie is te hoog. Door dit hoge niveau kunnen erfelijke gebreken de kop opsteken. Om het inteeltniveau in de populatie te beheersen is het belangrijk om een breed palet aan stieren in te zetten. Uit de analyses ten aanzien van de fundamentfokkerij blijkt dat er wel bedrijven aan te wijzen zijn die nauwelijks aan elkaar verwant zijn. Helaas weten wij niet welke bedrijven dat zijn, aangezien er geanonimiseerde data is geanalyseerd. Voor fundamenten is het vooral belangrijk dat de veehouders binnen dit fundament overeenstemming hebben over het eigen fokdoel. Verder moeten de onverwante dieren in verschillende fundamenten zitten om zo de diversiteit tussen de fundamenten zo veel mogelijk te behouden

Indicatoren om dracht te meten in melk = Biomarkers in milk to predict pregnancy in dairy cattle

In this project the technical possibilities were investigated to use protein profiles in dairy milk as an indicator to improve fertility

Fokwaarde voeropname : introductie van fokwaarde voor voeropname in Nederland

Feed costs represent above 50% of the total costs of dairy production, so reducing costs by improving dairy cow feed efficiency is a way to increase profitability. Therefore it is important to improve efficiency of that dairy cattle population. This project has shown that it is possible to breed for more efficient animals, resulting in permanent and cumulative changes in the genetic merit of dairy cows. The breeding value for feed intake is currently integrated in the Better Life Efficiency index for all sires of CRV, and it is under discussing if it will be included in the national index (published by GES) for all bulls in the Netherlands and Flanders

The contribution of breeding to reducing environmental impact of animal production

Animal production is responsible for 14.5% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Approximately half of these emissions originate directly from animal production, whereas the other half comes from feed production. Animal breeding aims at improving animal production and efficient use of resources, which results in a reduction of environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of animal breeding to reducing the environmental impact of the four major livestock species in the Netherlands (with their animal product), namely broilers (meat), laying hens (eggs), pigs (meat) and dairy cattle (milk). This study comprised of a literature review and a quantitative assessment of the current environmental impact and the result of recent genetic improvements. For broiler meat, chicken eggs and pig meat the focus was laid on GHG emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency, whereas for dairy the focus was laid on enteric methane emissions, an important contributor to GHG emissions. Results show that breeding reduces environmental impacts of animal products by about 1% per year. This is achieved without specific selection on environmental traits, but as an indirect response through selection on increased (feed) efficiency