Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Using the digital grass platemeter

It is difficult to have a clear overview of the grass growth of all the pastures nowadays. The pastures became larger and the weather more instable, so to predict the grass growth and the dry matter content has become more complicated as well as creating an effective planning.

Using the platemeter, as described on the 4D4F website, and performing a FarmWalk weekly gives farmers the opportunity to create awareness about grass growth and grass yield. During a FarmWalk, farmers will walk through the pastures in a V or W-shape with the grass platemeter. The platemater records in 30 measurements the average amount of dry matter per hectare. As a result of performing a FarmWalk regularly farmers can predict grass growth better and create an more effective planning, which can significantly reduce grassland losses and increase the quality of the grass. Using the platemeter is not only interesting for farmers who only mow the grass as a way of harvesting but also for grazing, the use of the platemater is a useful tool. Maybe the added value will even be greater. Especially for farmers who face difficult pasture planning with a significant number of cows per hectare of home ground. Even in this last case the grass intake of the herd can be measured.

The platemeter will help farmers to optimize the utilization of grassland and will be useful by creating an effective planning and insight in the quality of grass. Therewith the cheapest feed type available will not only be cheap but also of higher quality for the cows.

Source Project
4D4F Data driven dairy decisions for farmers
Ongoing | 2016-2019
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
United Kingdom
Project details

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