Data Driven Dairy Decisions for Farmers (4D4F) thematic network
As the EIP-AGRI Network has become part of the EU CAP Network, this website will no longer be updated after 1 April 2023. It will remain available in a static form as a reference of all previous EIP-AGRI activities. All interactive features such as the login, the main search function of the website, and the advanced filtering of the databases (e.g. project database and collaborative areas) will no longer be available. You will find all the new and up-to-date information on the EU CAP Network website.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
| Geographical scope | European Union |
| Keywords | dairy production Animal husbandry and welfare Farming practice precision farming |
The 4D4F thematic network looks into dairy animal and environmental sensors and how collecting real-time information can help contribute to decision-making in dairy farming. The network brings together dairy farmers, dairy technology suppliers, data companies, dairy advisors, veterinarians and researchers from across Europe.
/eip/agriculture/en/file/4d4f-project-video4D4F Project - Video
Data collection
Data collection offers many advantages for farmers in terms of decision-making. On the 4D4F website you can watch some clips showing dairy farm portraits on the use of data collection technology. One example from the UK is about early intervention on health matters in dairy farming: “We have a ‘navigator’ which analyses the levels of various components of the cow’s milk. By looking at the changing levels of these various components we can monitor, for example, the cows at risk of udder infection. The navigator delivers alarms and then we can take early intervention measures.” Kieran FitzGerald (UK, watch the clip).
“The explosion in the amount of data generated from dairy sensors opens up many new possibilities in improving the management and welfare of dairy animals, and this potential will be exploited best by bringing together farmers, advisors, researchers and industry” says Richard Lloyd from the 4D4F project. The Data Driven Dairy Decisions for Farmers (4D4F) thematic network will focus on the role which dairy animal and environmental sensors can play in collecting real time information to support and improve decision making by dairy farmers.
Creating a network
The 4D4F network will develop an online Community of Practice comprised of farmers, farm advisors, technology suppliers, knowledge exchange professionals and researchers. They will work together to debate, collect and communicate best practice drawn from innovative farmers, industry and the research community to facilitate the co-creation of innovative practices.
The results will be communicated to farmers using best practice guides on the use of sensors and data analysis tools. This will be supported by videos, infographics and an online virtual warehouse of dairy sensor technologies.
A number of publications are already available on the 4D4F website, including the recently published “Report for researchers” which is the analysis of a survey investigating the use of sensor technologies to improve productivity and profitability on dairy farms, in order to come up with research priorities on sensors in the dairy industry.
The network will also develop Standard Operating Procedures which can be tailored to individual farms to help farmers and farm advisors adopt dairy sensor and data analysis technology.
Workshops and events will promote discussion between farmers and their peers on how best to use sensors and data analysis in their own businesses. This will lead to local peer to peer support to facilitate the adoption of data driven dairy decision making.
4D4F held its first webinar at the end of February to present the project to trade media, advisors, farmers, researchers and innovators. You can watch it here.
EIP-AGRI
The network will work closely with EIP-AGRI and at member state level it will work with existing EIP Operational Groups working on dairy data and sensors and, where suitable Operational Groups do not exist, it will work with local partners to develop new Operational Groups.
“Supporting dairy farmers in the use of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) will not only increase productivity, but also allow for the continuous monitoring of the performance and comfort of individual animals, improving health and welfare even in the largest herds. PLF has the additional benefit in the traditional family farm of also improving the farmer’s quality of life” says Richard Lloyd. Furthermore, better use of resources will also improve environmental benefits.
Partners
4D4F has 16 partners from different European countries and representing industry, farming, research, farming support organisations, advisory services and knowledge exchange organisations:
- Innovation for Agriculture UK
- Flanders research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food (ILVO) Belgium
- The Estonian University of Life Sciences Estonia
- Latvian Academy of Sciences Latvia
- The University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest Romania
- The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) Sweden
- The Zuidelijke Land- en Tuinbouworganisatie (ZLTO) The Netherlands
- Wim Govaerts & Co Belgium
- Knowledge Information Market (KIM) Spain
- Paragon Europe Malta, Belgium
- Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences The Netherlands
- Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA) Spain
- Liba Beligium
- DeLaval International AB Sweden
- Porphyrio NV Belgium
- KU Leuven Belgium
http://www.4d4f.eu/content/partners
More information
- http://4d4f.eu/
- @4d4fproject
- https://www.facebook.com/4D4Fproject/
- Find out more about 4D4F thematic network in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OR0Zk5EQyY
Photos: http://www.4d4f.eu/photos
Publication date:
Monday, 13 March, 2017 - 11:15
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 nw_4d4f_14032017_en.pdf | 409.54 KB |
