Objective:

• Develop methods, tools, analytics and data transfer to create a system for monitoring silage quality, and energy and protein nutrition balance of dairy cows on-site at farms
  • Test handheld devices for monitoring nutritional value of growing grass and to support the determination of optimal harvesting time for fodder
  • Develop a tool for easy silage sample collection
  • Develop a quick on-farm method for determination of the dry matter in silage and fodder
  • Develop two electrochemical biosensor assays for analysis of nutritional markers in milk to facilitate monitoring of nutritional balance in individual cows
  • Develop data transfer for measurement results to a central database
• Increase efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the farms by reducing feeding costs and improving cow health
• Decrease the working time needed to silage sample collection and handling, and to analysis and archiving of measurement results

Partners:

ProAgria Kainuu Rural Advisory Services, MTech Digital Solutions Ltd, Semes Ltd, local veterinarian

Website:
http://www.oulu.fi/kajaaniuniversityconsortium/smartfeed

Coordinator name and contact:
University of Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, Unit of Measurement Technology (MITY) [email protected]

Number of farms:
8 pilot farms

Funding Organization:
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas, Rural 2020