CowFit

Experimental studies on the environmental impact, increased acceptance by the animals and improved animal health resulting from the use of cow toilets

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

As part of this research project, a technology developed in the Netherlands – the so-called ‘cow toilet’ – is to be assessed and further developed with regard to its effectiveness in reducing ammonia emissions at the barn level. Integrating the cow toilet into a concentrate feeding station makes it more practical to manage the cows’ condition. Furthermore, individual urine samples can be collected from each animal. This enables continuous monitoring of the animals’ health status, which may lead to a reduction in the use of medication (particularly antibiotics). The collected urine is to be stored outside the barn in a low-emission manner and used for specific fertilisation applications. The separation of manure and urine results in drier walking surfaces and an altered ‘soil ecosystem’, which is expected to have a positive effect on hoof health.