News, know-how, publicity and useful information are also available on the Internet. Innovation Dutch farmers and market gardeners are eager to try the latest innovations. Several techniques that are now used world-wide were developed and first tried in the Netherlands. Almost all new dairy cattle barns in the Netherlands are cubical types. Both new and existing barns give priority to welfare, environmental concerns and efficiency.
New materials make for more comfortable bedding for the animals.
The first computerized milking systems or milking robots were developed in the Netherlands and used for the first time on Dutch dairy farms. By now computerized milking systems are used on hundreds Dutch farms to milk thousands of cows. Such systems not only make life easier for the farmer, but they also improve the quality of life for the cow, since grazing is still possible. Every calf, cow and bull in the Netherlands has a unique identification number that it carries on its ear tag. Cattle farmers, dealers, butchers, chain management organizations, the Animal health Service, veterinary surgeons, breeding and artificial insemination organizations all use this number.