Try GOLD - Free
Lessons from Danish researchers and farmers
Farmer's Weekly
|September 02,2022
Research and development in agriculture is accelerating to keep up with the numerous challenges in the sector. On a recent agricultural tour of Denmark, Lindi Botha discovered the many different ways in which the Danish are tackling the age-old dilemma of optimising inputs while achieving maximum output.
FAST FACTS
New technology enables farmers to monitor cattle feeding behaviour and select animals with the best feed conversion rate.
Green fertilisers can drastically reduce a farmer’s carbon footprint.
The strong move towards veganism in Europe has prompted Danish researchers to develop tastier plant-based protein products.
Danish researchers have developed a wide variety of products and technologies aimed at assisting that country’s farmers, and by extension, those across the globe, to lower their carbon footprints and employ more environmentally friendly production practices.
MEASURING FEED AND MILK OUTPUT
A large percentage of any dairy farmer’s variable costs are feed-related, and in Denmark the portion is as high as 88%. Any saving in feed or improvement in feed efficiency therefore goes a long way towards increasing profits.
Genetics play a major role in feed conversion. Selecting the best-performing animals, however, is easier said than done. VikingGenetics, a co-operative owned by 20 000 dairy and beef farmers in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, has therefore developed technology to make the process of selection simpler and more accurate.
The co-op’s cattle feed intake (CFIT) system uses 3D cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor the feed intake of each cow during lactation. A camera, placed above the feeding table, identifies a cow through her unique colour pattern and shape, estimates her weight, and quantifies how much she eats.
This story is from the September 02,2022 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Farmer's Weekly
Farmer's Weekly
Infrastructure, policy, and finance will be the African continent's growth drivers
Africa's agricultural potential is vast, but inefficiencies in infrastructure, trade policy, and finance limit growth. Investments in transport, cold storage, irrigation, and digital trade systems, among others, are key to unlocking faster, cheaper, and more efficient agricultural trade.
3 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
SAPPO Academy showcases skills development and small business success
The South African Pork Producers' Organisation (SAPPO) Academy, a training organisation that promotes animal, environmental, and public health in the pig industry through knowledge transfer, recently hosted a mini development symposium in Pretoria. The event included an afternoon of meaningful dialogue, strategic learning, and leadership exchange, effectively bridging academic insight with real-world industry innovation.
3 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Backing for SA Canegrowers as sugar imports soar
Coenie Snyman, winemaker and founder of Rock of Eye Wines, was named the 2025 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year for his Rock of Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, while Marnich Aucamp, assistant winemaker at Stellenbosch Vineyards, won the Young Winemaker of the Year award for his Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2024 at a gala dinner near Kleinmond in the Western Cape.
1 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
New or used? A practical guide to second-hand farm equipment
Second-hand farm machinery can deliver excellent value, if you know what to look for. Western Cape equipment broker Debbie Smit gave Lindi Botha practical advice to help farmers decide when to buy new, when pre-owned is the smarter choice, and how to avoid the costly pitfalls that often catch buyers off-guard.
4 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
The story of the Drakensberger beef cattle breed's evolution in Africa
The Drakensberger cattle breed has been part of the South African landscape for ages. So-called black indigenous cattle existed in South Africa as early as the 15th and 16th centuries and formed the foundation of the current Drakensberger beef cattle breed.
4 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Man vs machine - which works best in SA's farming sector?
South African farmers have embraced both mechanisation and staffing solutions to improve farm level efficiency. Sabrina Dean investigated the pros and cons of both and filed this report.
9 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
SA's poultry industry must be more inclusive and sustainable
In spite of great progress made over the past 30 years in South Africa's poultry value chain, setbacks such as avian influenza and trade restrictions are calling for official intervention
2 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
An introduction to forward contracts and commodity futures for South African farmers
The agriculture sector is notoriously volatile, but producers can find stability using financial derivative tools. This article clearly defines and differentiates between two key instruments: forward contracts and futures contracts.
3 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Less tillage, more life: the machines and techniques behind soil recovery
Soil health is the foundation of global food security, environmental quality, and agricultural sustainability. According to expert Dr Hendrik Smith, reversing the cycle of soil degradation requires the continuous application of regenerative conservation agriculture principles, with no-tillage cultivation being nonnegotiable.
4 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Five Joburg hotels that make business a pleasure
Even with its well-documented problems, Johannesburg remains the centre of business in South Africa. And unlike some cities with their mountains and oceans, you'll get value and quality for a fraction of the price at these hotels. There are also great views in the mix. By .
6 mins
January 2-9, 2026
Translate
Change font size