A. Kuipers¹, P. Galama¹, H. Wemmenhove¹

¹Expertise Centre for Farm Management and Knowledge Transfer and Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands

Corresponding author: dr. Abele Kuipers  abele.kuipers@wur.nl

ABSTRACT

This paper illustrates how future oriented dairy farmers and researchers in Western Europe work  on  the  farm  business  towards  2030  by presenting  examples  of innovative  practices  and techniques,  which deal  with efficiency and  public  demands.  Future orientation of farmers was analyzed. Cow housing systems, especially dealing with animal welfare demands will be described, and a successful antibiotic case will be presented.  Interest  in grassland  is in revival in Western Europe,  stimulated  by  the  economic  reason   of  utilization  of  permanent   grassland   areas   by ruminants, and the societal wish of having the animals grazing outside. As show-case a city – cow farm interaction project will be presented.

BIOGRAPHY

Abele Kuipers is director of Expertise Centre for Farm Management and Knowledge Transfer WUR, the Netherlands; working for Wageningen Livestock Research and guest-employee of Wageningen Economic Research. He is council member of IFMA, General Assembly member of WAAP (World Association for Animal Production) as representative of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), and was for 10 years president of Cattle Commission of EAAP (European Association for Animal Production). His work concentrates on dairy farm systems and management.