Dr. Ir. Lenny van Erp - van der Kooij
Lector Precision Livestock Farming / Professor Precision Livestock Farming
- L.vErp@has.nl
- L.vErp@has.nl
The Precision Livestock Farming research group wants to facilitate smart farming and the use data for more precise operational management. The research group also looks to other industries for inspiration.
The aim of the Precision Livestock Farming research group is to facilitate smarter and more efficient farming (smart farming) and to use data for more precise operational management. By collecting more information about the individual animal, it is easier to prevent illness, reduce the amount of raw materials and antibiotics needed, and to increase the animal’s performance. More and, specifically, better knowledge of the animal’s behaviour and health status can improve its well-being.
The Precicion Livestock Farming research group focusses on the animal sector and specifically the technology and data that play a key role in animal husbandry. The research group also looks to other industries for inspiration.
New role livestock farmer
The livestock farmer is getting a new role: instead of identifying abnormalities (something that a sensor is often better at and is able to do continuously), the livestock farmer can demonstrate their expertise by making the right decisions based on all the information they receive. This enables more precise management of animals that have something wrong with them. This approach is more efficient and problems are detected much sooner.
HAS green academy has considerable experience in this area: there is an established group focused on precision agriculture, numerous technology projects including in sensor technology in the livestock sector, and in 2016 the 3rd year minor Smart Farming was started.
Examples
The Precision Livestock Farming research group works closely with 2 on-the-job-training companies:
Hoeve Boveneind
On-the-job training dairy farm Hoeve Boveneind in Herwijnen is owned and run by Wilfred de Bruijn. Here, HAS green academy is able to link the cows’ behaviour and activity to their location, using technology from Nedap. Also, a SmaXtec rumen bolus enables researchers to measure the activity, temperature and pH in the stomachs of some of the cows. This and other data collected on-site offer considerable possibilities for this research group to carry out practical research.
Pels Melkvee
The research conducted by HAS green academy at Pels in Empel focuses primarily on mapping out the activity and fitness of cows in meadows. These parameters are measured using IDAs and the Body Condition Score camera from DeLaval. The research group The research group conducts research at Pels Melkvee that looks into the relationship between condition, social interactions and ranking of the cows.
Inauguration speech
Publication inauguration speech professor Lenny van Erp, October 2016
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