What is the case?

Many dairy farmers want to use herbs in grasslands to promote biodiversity and nature-inclusive farming. In addition to positive effects on biodiversity, the use of herbs offers opportunities to contribute positively to animal health, emission reduction, and soil quality through the bioactive substances present in herbs. Applying herbs in grassland and feed can also influence the composition and quality of milk because the bioactive substances and/or their metabolites reach the milk. There is already much knowledge about the functioning of herbs, but there is insufficient quantitative and integrated knowledge to optimally utilise the positive properties of herbs for the benefit of soil, animals, emission reduction, and milk quality. As a result, the use of herbs is still difficult to capitalise on economically.

What is the project doing about this?

This research gathers and disseminates existing and new knowledge about herbs and the utilisation of bioactive components. Under controlled conditions and in practice at dairy farms, the effects of using herbs on methane and nitrogen emissions, and milk quality are investigated. Based on this information, dairy farmers will gain knowledge to use herbs in a targeted manner.

What does the project deliver?

An herb guide will be developed to provide dairy farmers and other interested parties with information about the properties and effects of agro-functional herbs, and existing and newly developed knowledge will be disseminated through workshops, lectures, and factsheets. The outcomes will provide dairy farmers with tools to apply functional herbs purposefully on their farms and economically capitalise on their use.

Project details

Associate lector: Dr. Marije Strikwold ERT, Safety in the Food Chain
Project duration: 2021 – 2024
Core team: VHL, FrieslandCampina, Limagrain, WUR
Other partners: Erve Mentink, Rabobank, Hoogland BV, Study Group Animal and Herb, Living Lab Nature-Inclusive Farming Foundation, Natural Livestock Farming Platform Foundation