What was the challenge/problem addressed?

The optimization of permanent grassland, the pasture management, the perennial field forage cultivation and the fodder conservation, in order to improve the efficiency, animal health, value and environmental compatibility of the dairy production in the grassland region. In recent decades, more and more new symptoms have developed on dairy farms which no longer can be attributed to classic diseases. Subclinical acidosis, subclinical ketosis as well as Mortellaro have increased in recent years. The causes of these diseases cannot longer be traced back to one factor. There are several factors which have to be analysed and solved in an interdisciplinary way in a cooperation with farmers, advisors, vets, labs and researchers to optimize dairy production in a sustainable and economically efficient way.

What are the success factors in solving the problem?

• Involvement of all partners in the process (farmers, advisors, researchers, vets, labs).

• Improving the silage process by reducing the pure protein degradation and indicating alternatives to the silage process.

• Analysing the influence of the grassland and forage production, as well as the conservation methods on the basic feed intake and animal health of the dairy cow, thus improving the profitability of dairy cattle as a whole.

What were the main challenges during the innovation process?

• Data collection during forage production

• Data analysis this holistic approach

• Administrative barriers of this new research calls.  

What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?

Knowledge awareness and exchange, Advisory, consultancy and backstopping aimed at solving complex problems, to be provided during the innovation process and based on demands of actors and the co-construction of solutions, Demand articulation, to allow actors to have access to new ideas, identify their needs, define their objectives and express clear demands to other actors, Networking facilitation and brokerage, to help organize or strengthen networks, improve the relationships between key actors and to align services in order to be able to complement each other, Capacity building, aimed at increasing innovation actors’ capacities in order to play their roles in the innovation process, Enhancing/supporting access to resources by facilitating access to inputs, facilities and funding, Facilitating access to new networks and actors, Scaling up the innovation to increase the uptake by a broader group

For sharing experience of the practical case, please contact 

Hanna Heidt

Email: heidt@ibla.lu; phone number: +352 26 15 13-82