Emission reduction in dairy cattle

Within the context of adapting fertiliser and fertilising laws and ordinances and the current discussions on climate-relevant impacts of agriculture, the focus keeps on shifting to emissions from dairy cattle husbandry. It should be taken into account here that modern dairy cattle husbandry is not an end in itself.

Generally, the keeping of dairy cattle serves to produce milk for human consumption. The target should therefore be the most efficient possible milk production. In this connection efficiency does not only mean cost efficiency, but also optimising the utilisation of nutrients.

It is possible to influence the nitrogen and phosphorus emissions substantially via the feeding. Emissions of climate-relevant gases (above all methane, ammonia) should be taken into account as well when optimising the rations (…).