Dutch Dairy Research Articles

Innovation behavior and sustainability performance: Empirical evidence on the farming sector

Abstract Modern agriculture faces the challenge of supplying a growing world population with high-quality products while minimizing negative environmental and social impacts of its production and ensuring economic viability. Innovation is often considered key to achieving these goals, but its effectiveness remains an empirical question. Our study investigates how the adoption of new technologies affects farm sustainability with respect to its economic and environmental and one indicator of the social dimension. We use a comprehensive dataset on Dutch dairy and arable farms comprising financial and environmental data along with data on innovation activity that allows for a differentiated view on the effects of various innovations. First-difference estimations reveal that simultaneous positive effects across all three sustainability dimensions are not guaranteed. For example, new buildings show a positive association with economic indicators of dairy farms, but the associations between other innovation activities and other economic, environmental, and the social indicator remain inconclusive.

Model Collaboration between Farm Level Models with Application on Dutch Dairy and Arable Farms Regarding Circular Agricultural Policy

The ambition of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture is to stimulate the transition to circular agriculture. The objective of this paper is to develop and apply a farm level model toolbox for circular-agriculture policy assessment. Transition to circular agriculture affects farm management practices and outcome in the field of finance and economics, soil quality, use of finite resources, emissions, and biodiversity. Based on this, there is a need for an integrated assessment at farm level. Therefore, Bio Economic Farm Models should be at the core of the model toolbox. Model collaboration enables answering more complex questions and enlarges the scope of the analysis. Challenges of model collaboration are among others overlapping modules, different approaches (optimisation versus simulation), and existence of different networks of model developers and users. It is argued that a governance structure and networking will foster model collaboration. To stimulate transition to more circular agriculture practices and as a demonstration, the model toolbox was applied to assess the economic and environmental impacts of a tax on N from mineral fertiliser on a representative dairy and arable farm in a region in the Netherlands. It was found that a tax on N from mineral fertiliser has relatively large income effects, while the impacts on various environmental indicators are relatively limited.

Farmers’ knowledge and expectations of antimicrobial use and resistance are strongly related to usage in Dutch livestock sectors

Comprehensive strategies to improve on-farm antimicrobial use (AMU) are needed to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Little is known about farmers’ motivating and enabling factors, and about their influence on AMU. In a cross-sectional online survey, Dutch dairy, veal and pig farmers (n=457) reported their on-farm AMU as “Defined Daily Dose Animal” per year (DDDAF) and completed a detailed questionnaire on their view, knowledge and behavior towards AMU and AMR. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the questionnaire items identified four psychological factors labeled as ‘referent beliefs’, ‘perceived risk’, ‘knowledge’, and ‘undesired attitude to regulations’. Linear regression was done to explore the relationship between the obtained factors and on-farm AMU across the three animal sectors. Dairy farmers showed the highest factor scores for ‘knowledge’ and the lowest for ‘perceived risk’. ‘Knowledge’ scores were significantly and inversely related to AMU (P=0.0004). Borderline significant associations with AMU were found for ‘perceived risk’ and ‘undesired attitude to regulations’ (negative and positive relationships respectively). There were no apparent differences for these relationships between the three livestock sectors. Behavioral interventions in farmers such as educational campaigns or increased support by veterinarians could empower farmers with more prudent and rational practices, eventually reducing AMU in food animals.

Potential of extensification of European agriculture for a more sustainable food system, focusing on nitrogen

Most global strategies for future food security focus on sustainable intensification of production of food and involve increased use of nitrogen fertilizer and manure. The external costs of current high nitrogen (N) losses from agriculture in the European Union, are 0.3–1.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008. We explore the potential of sustainable extensification for agriculture in the EU and The Netherlands by analysing cases and scenario studies focusing on reducing N inputs and livestock densities. Benefits of extensification are higher local biodiversity and less environmental pollution and therefore less external costs for society. Extensification also has risks such as a reduction of yields and therewith a decrease of the GDP and farm income and a smaller contribution to the global food production, and potentially an i0ncrease of global demand for land. We demonstrate favourable examples of extensification. Reducing the N fertilization rate for winter wheat in Northwest Europe to 25–30% below current N recommendations accounts for the external N cost, but requires action to compensate for a reduction in crop yield by 10–20%. Dutch dairy and pig farmers changing to less intensive production maintain or even improve farm income by price premiums on their products, and/or by savings on external inputs. A scenario reducing the Dutch pig and poultry sector by 50%, the dairy sector by 20% and synthetic N fertilizer use by 40% lowers annual N pollution costs by 0.2–2.2 billion euro (40%). This benefit compensates for the loss of GDP in the primary sector but not in the supply and processing chain. A 2030 scenario for the EU27 reducing consumption and production of animal products by 50% (demitarean diet) reduces N pollution by 10% and benefits human health. This diet allows the EU27 to become a food exporter, while reducing land demand outside Europe in 2030 by more than 100 million hectares (2%), which more than compensates increased land demand when changing to organic farming. We conclude that in Europe extensification of agriculture is sustainable when combined with adjusted diets and externalization of environmental costs to food prices.

Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence and risk factors on commercial sheep farms in The Netherlands

Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence was assessed on Dutch dairy and non-dairy sheep farms using ELISA. Risk factors for seropositivity on non-dairy sheep farms were identified at farm and sheep level by...

Purchase of Catastrophe Insurance by Dutch Dairy and Arable Farmers

This article analyzed the impact of risk perception, risk attitude, and other farmer personal and farm characteristics on the actual purchase of catastrophe insurance by Dutch dairy and arable farmers. The specific catastrophe insurance types considered were hail–fire–storm insurance for buildings, disability insurance, crop insurance against hail, storm, and brown rot, and insurance against epidemic animal disease outbreaks. The results suggested that risk perception was a significant variable that influenced purchase of catastrophe insurance by dairy and arable farmers, whereas risk attitude was significant only in arable farming.

Pregnancy Toxemia In Does

Two 4-year-old Dutch dairy does from different herds at their last months of pregnancy were anorectic and depressed. Clinically, pregnancy toxemia was diagnosed. At necropsy 4 and 6 fully developed foetuses were found in the two does respectively. Livers of both does were enlarged, yellowish and friable (fatty). The rumens were tremendously decreased in volume and were nearly empty. Kidneys were degenerated. Based on pathological findings final diagnosis was that of pregnancy toxemia.Tanzania Veterinary Journal Vol. 24 (1) 2007: pp. 74-78