"The Metabolic Center is the heart of the research performed at AgroVet-Strickhof," explains coordinator Sergej Amelchanka. The farm, which opened in September 2017, is supported by the canton of Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), and the University of Zurich. The goal is to promote education and research in direct relationship with agricultural practices, in order to find answers to questions concerning the future—with a focus on climate change and feeding the world. At the new MC, experts take a closer look at the animals' metabolism and test aspects such as the effect of the feed composition on milk quality and methane emissions. By examining the separately collected feces and urine, and recording milk production, conclusions can be drawn on each animal's feed conversion. "We are able to clarify which substances the cows ingest and which they emit," says Dr. Amelchanka in summary.
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How does a cow's feed intake affect its methane emissions? AgroVet-Strickhof is an agricultural research center in Zurich dedicated to this and other issues. Weighing platforms from METTLER TOLEDO measure and document the details of each cow’s intake.
Marilyn stands in her spot, leisurely eating the silage mix in front of her. She is one of seven cows in the barn of the Metabolic Center at AgroVet-Strickhof that are currently under observation in a research project to find out if methane production in dairy cows is genetically determined.
The Swiss Braunvieh cows being studied come from farms in eastern and central Switzerland. After they settle in at the Strickhof, the cows then spend about eight days in the science barn of the Metabolic Center (MC). Following this, Marylin and her companions spend two days in so-called respiration chambers. In these rooms, the animals' gas exchange—the oxygen they use and the carbon dioxide and methane they emit—is measured. Once the measurements are completed, the cows go back to their farms again.
Industrial balances in the cow barn
The metabolism barn has room for 24 cows in tie-stalls. To ensure that every animal receives the same amount of basic feed, the MC team relies on a solution from METTLER TOLEDO. A model PFA575 floor scale was installed at the head of every stall. The cows eat directly from the weighing platform. Sergej Amelchanka confirms that the work in the barn is much easier now that the employees are able to weigh the feed for every individual animal. "If a barn only has one large scale, the feed has to be weighed there first, then taken to the feed site and unloaded again. With weighing platforms, however, a lot less effort is required. We also don't have to pick up the leftover feed and take it back to the scale. Instead, you can immediately see how much a cow has left over."
An adult dairy cow eats around 36 kilograms of basic feed per day. The software developed for the MC not only shows how much each cow eats, but also the pace at which it was eaten—and it can visually display the data. The six terminals installed in the barn can immediately show the scientists and animal caretakers how much each cow has eaten. The data can be compared on a computer in an adjoining room.
Researching questions for the future
Two research projects have been conducted since the completion of the Metabolic Center in December 2017. That number will increase rapidly over the course of this year. The MC is available for livestock research not only for the canton of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the University of Zurich, but can be used by other institutions and companies as well.
