Zero grazing dairy farming systems


To compare the economic, environmental (N, P, K fluxes; greenhouse gas emissions at the animal and barn scale…) and social (work load) performances of a zero grazing system to a system with grazing.
‘Total confinement’, or zero grazing, is quite innovative for Wallonia since most dairy cows are used to graze, even when grass is not the main ingredient in feeding. Zero grazing is induced by the growing number of milking robots on Walloon dairy farms that often prevent grazing.


Regional specific information on the milk production, the behaviour and welfare of dairy cows and the environmental performances of a zero grazing system.