In a series of interviews conducted Innvite, we ask ET4D experts to give their insights on core developments within dairy farming. This is the sixth in the series.

ET4D is a European research project with the ambition to improve the environmental management and animal welfare of dairy farming. The ET4D partners come from Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Türkiye and Israel

ET4D’s Turkish partner, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University (TOGU), is leading the development and testing of innovative technologies for livestock production and environmental monitoring. ET4D prototypes for both indoor and outdoor use have recently been installed on a dairy farm in Tokat, Türkiye, where they are being evaluated under real-world farming conditions.

We spoke with Prof. Dr Sefa Tarhan from TOGU about the importance of environmental monitoring in dairy farming and how data can be transformed into practical decision-support tools.

Q1: Which types of environmental data generated within ET4D are most relevant for farmers in their day-to-day and seasonal decision-making?

We are collecting various environmental data to assess indoor conditions in dairy cattle barns. High air temperatures and high relative humidity can induce heat stress in dairy cows, thereby adversely affecting milk yield and reproductive performance. Therefore, the daily assessment of heat stress occurrence in barns is of paramount importance.

Cows produce significant amounts of CO₂. The accumulation of CO₂ in the barn negatively affects animal comfort and can indicate inadequate ventilation. In regions with harsh winter conditions, monitoring daily variations in CO₂ concentrations is crucial for adequate ventilation management. The daily variation in NH₃ and CH₄ concentrations can serve as useful indicators of the effectiveness of general farm management practices.

Seasonal evaluation of environmental data can help farmers choose management strategies and technologies that support optimal barn conditions and investment decisions. Seasonal assessments can also help us better understand how local climate affects animal welfare and gas emissions in the barn environment.

Q2: How can complex environmental data be translated into clear and usable information for farmers?

Many small- and medium-scale dairy farms are family-run and rely on family labour, with farmers working late into the night to manage daily operations. This makes it difficult to make comprehensive, timely decisions about animal comfort and environmental management. For that reason, it is of great importance to provide farmers with immediate, clear notifications of adverse changes in animal comfort and deficiencies in environmental management practices. 

The environmental data should be shared with farmers through web-based visualisations. Farmers can clearly observe the occurrence, duration, and severity of adverse environmental changes in their barns through these visualisations.

Environmental data can be used to develop AI models to predict the potential impacts of future climate change on dairy farming systems. When integrated with socio-economic data, these models can also serve as decision-support tools for policymakers and investors.

Q3: To what extent does the ET4D partnership bring value to your work at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University?

ET4D has provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with multinational, multidisciplinary research teams composed of experts in their respective fields. The involvement of researchers from diverse disciplines has created valuable opportunities to develop holistic solutions to contemporary environmental challenges.

Our team has already completed various precision livestock systems projects. Building upon this background, ET4D has provided a major opportunity to advance the integration of internet-based environmental monitoring systems into animal production practices.

Through ET4D, we have gained substantial experience in European research initiatives. The dynamic, collaborative decision-making environment established during project meetings has been a key factor in the project's successful progress and has provided us with valuable insights.

About Prof. Dr Sefa Tarhan

Dr Sefa Tarhan is a professor at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University (TOGU located in Tokat Province, Türkiye). In the ET4D project, Dr Tarhan and the TOGU team contribute with strong expertise in environmental data analysis and support the development of tools for greenhouse gas assessment and reporting. Their work supports the transition towards a more sustainable agriculture and livestock production.