About Cow Coach
Cow Coach is an independent advisory firm specializing in robotic milking, barn design, and data-driven farm management.
We support dairy farmers during the start-up of milking robots, in solving persistent technical or management issues, and in optimizing milking performance and herd management. In addition to on-farm consultancy, Cow Coach is active as a project partner, speaker, and subject-matter expert in a wide range of collaborations within the dairy sector.
Our activities:
◾Advisory support for 60+ dairy farms in Belgium and the Netherlands, focusing on robotic milking start-ups and overall farm management
◾ Execution of 5 projects on robotic milking & grazing, transition management, colostrum management, sensors, and calf health
◾ Delivery of 75+ presentations and workshops on a wide range of topics
“I am Kristine Piccart, veterinarian and independent advisor. In 2019, I founded Cow Coach based on my experience as a former researcher at Ghent University (UGent) and ILVO, with a strong focus on precision livestock farming. Through Cow Coach, I translate scientific knowledge and data into practical, on-farm applications. My goal is to help dairy farmers use technology and data-driven management decisions in a way that ensures major investments—such as milking robots—pay off more quickly. No gut feeling or commercial talk, but evidence-based advice that works in practice. I actively think along with the farmer on barn design, milking technology, and farm management, both during robot start-up and when troubleshooting or optimizing performance. Depending on the question, I collaborate with specialized colleagues in nutrition, veterinary medicine, milking technology, data, and IT.”
Kristine Piccart
What does Cow Coach stand for?
Making technology and data profitable for both the farmer and the cow. To achieve our goals, we apply the following principles:
Continuous improvement
We believe in the power of making small adjustments every day. That is why we follow a step-by-step approach in our long-term support with rapid feedback to the customer according to the PDCA process ("plan-do-check-act").
Collaboration & co-creation
We are committed to creating and maintaining a culture of collaboration with all involved stakeholders in the supply chain (producers, suppliers, advisors, vets, buyers, …). We want to foster mutually beneficial partnerships.
Coaching role
We consistently emphasize the element of coaching in our long-term support. We guide our customers in the personal development and implementation of new solutions, strategies and work processes.
Our publications
LandbouwLeven
Omschakelen naar melkrobots: goed begonnen, is half gewonnen
Als de oude melkstal aan vernieuwing toe is, overwegen veel melkveehouders om te investeren in melkrobots. Automatisch melken zorgt immers voor meer flexibiliteit, minder lichamelijke belasting en meer melk per koe. Dat is althans het doel dat velen voor ogen hebben. Maar hoe kan je de stal, de koeien en jezelf zo goed mogelijk voorbereiden om er effectief een succesverhaal van te maken?
