Innovations in Dairy Cattle Farming

More Efficient Roughage Supply Is a Topic of Current Interest

With an average score of 1.53 in each category, the farmers surveyed consider both greater efficiency in roughage supply and improved animal health to be very important. Producing high-quality roughage is a challenge for farms and, at the same time, a key factor in animal health, herd performance, and profitability.

Systematic monitoring of roughage from harvest through to consumption by the animal ensures that nutritional value, feed intake, and aerobic stability can be maintained.

The drought in 2026 and the resulting feed shortage, in particular, are bringing feed production and utilization even more into focus. Feed must be utilized as efficiently as possible and without waste. Furthermore, feed quality is becoming increasingly important in these challenging times.

Animal health is equally important

Animal health, as well as improvements in herd management and animal monitoring, are also considered very important by the farmers surveyed. Through monitoring and early detection, as well as measures to improve the cows’ comfort, a healthy and productive herd can be maintained, resulting in economic benefits. Only healthy cows produce milk reliably. Accordingly, the survey participants are also calling for innovations in this area.

Feeding Tailored to Needs

In addition to more efficient forage utilization, respondents also expressed a desire for innovations in feeding tailored to the cows’ needs. Despite the existing theoretical foundations of feeding, feeding behavior often does not align with the analysis results of the silage. Here, the farms hope for more information and, above all, transparency. It is also essential to consider the interplay with the importance of silage quality, which has already been discussed. In this context, universally applicable and reliable guidelines regarding the energy and nutrient requirements of dairy cows, their needs-based supply, and ration formulation play a crucial role. The new recommendations published by the Society for Nutritional Physiology in 2023 were adapted for practical application by the DLG Working Group on Forage & Feeding; the resulting advisory recommendations  are now fully available and will also be presented at the Spotlight event during EuroTier 2026.

Marketing of Milk and Dairy Products

In Germany, the marketing of milk and dairy products is tied to individual dairies on a regional basis. As a result, farms have little leeway to switch buyers or influence prices or marketing strategies. Farms are calling for innovations and improvements in this area

Work Organization and Data Management

In addition, participants are calling for innovations in the area of work organization. Automation and digital assistance systems can support routine tasks and help structure workflows. However, this requires that the technology operates reliably and fits into operational processes.

Data management is also among the top 10 priorities. Various sensor and monitoring systems are already available in dairy farming. One challenge is linking these different applications and making the data usable on the farm without adding additional complexity.

Overall, the dairy farmers surveyed expect innovations primarily in areas where they directly contribute to animal health, feed efficiency, and operational decision-making. The ranking also makes it clear that technical innovations are not viewed as an end in themselves: they are intended to create transparency, improve workflows, and support the economic stability of dairy farms.

The topic of biosecurity and hygiene, rated as important by farmers with an average score of 1.9, does not make it into the top 10, however. This is surprising because animal diseases are now occurring more and more frequently in cattle and dairy farming as well, and are thus gaining in importance.