Happy milk, a decision support system to improve the efficiency of dairy farms in the Parmigiano-Reggiano district
Market instability and the uncertainty of future scenarios make it difficult for the dairy farmers of the Parmigiano Reggiano district to identify certain elements to base their business strategies. Increasing the efficiency of a farm is a complex process, involving several factors: although there are already several tools to support the farmers, they are usually targeted to solve only one single problem. The goal of the GOI “HAPPY MILK” is the development of an integrated decision support system, which will help the dairy farmers to make the most profitable choices to improve their farms structures and management with and animal friendy and sustainable approach.
- identify key indicators of dairy farm efficiency;
- develop the decision support tool HAPPY MILK;
- define for each critical point identified one or more improvement measures;
- analyze the carbon footprint in the pilot farms pre- and post-intervention;
- verify the impact of HAPPY MILK on the cost of production and profitability;
- raise awareness among stakeholders through training and dissemination activities about the low efficiency of dairy farms in the Parmigiano Reggiano district and the features of the HAPPY MILK software.
In the area of Parmigiano Reggiano farms low efficiency is still a priority issue to be addressed. Due to the size of the stables, the increase of productivity of the cows (but also their vulnerability) and the decreasing of profitability the herd management is becoming a decisive factor. Although there are several tools to support the farmers, they are generally aimed at solving one single aspect, while there are no tools that consider the complexity of a farm as a whole, considering it also in the environment it is involved. The Operational Group HAPPY MILK aim to develop a decision support system that will assist farmers choosing the best strategy to upgrade farming facilities and improve cattle management in a sustainable and animal friendly way.
Using the software HAPPY MILK farmers will be able to:
• identify critical issues related to animal welfare, breeding environment, suitability of facilities, optimization of productive, reproductive and higyenical parameters;
• define, for each critical point, the possible structural interventions and / or management improvements;
• calculate for each improvement an estimate of the costs (investment and /or management costs) and their effect on production costs.
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Sito web del progetto Happy Milk
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Sito web GOI CRPA
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Sito web CRPA
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Articolo pubblicato sulla Rivista di Agricoltura n. 3 - marzo 2017
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Logo del Progetto
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Altro
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Newsletter n. 1 - Marzo 2018
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Newsletter n. 2 - Luglio 2018
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Newsletter n. 3 - Settembre 2018
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Newsletter n. 4 - Gennaio 2019
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Articolo su L'Informatore Zootecnico
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