Mini-Me robot deployed in NZ battle against urine patches

Scientists in New Zealand believe leaching of nitrogen from cow urine patches is one of the most serious threats facing their grazed dairy farms.

Farmers down under have long used dicyandiamide (DCD) to slow down nitrate leaching, but it was removed from the market in 2013 after traces were found in exported dairy products.

Now, their search for a urine patch solution has delivered a robot called Mini-Me, which identifies urine patches after each grazing and immediately applies products to reduce nitrate leaching.