MEACAP – D7a Technical and management-based mitigation measures in agriculture – June 2005 SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME PRIORITY 8: Policy-Oriented Research SPECIFIC TARGETED RESEARCH PROJECT n°SSPE-CT-2004-503604 Impact of Environmental Agreements on the CAP Document number: MEACAP WP3 D7a Dissemination level: public Survey of technical and management-based mitigation measures in agriculture Author: A. Weiske Author’s Organisation(s): Institute for Energy and Environment (IE) Date: June 2005 1 MEACAP – D7a Technical and management-based mitigation measures in agriculture – June 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction............................................................................................................... 7 1 Measures related to livestock and poultry farming ....................................... 9 1.1 Animal breeding and husbandry ................................................................................. 9 1.1.1 Livestock breeding ................................................................................................ 9 1.1.2 Artificial insemination........................................................................................... 9 1.1.3 Planned selection of male/female at insemination (embryo and sperm sexing) . 10 1.1.4 Twinning ............................................................................................................. 11 1.1.5 Lifetime efficiency (calves, cattle, cows / meat, milk) ....................................... 11 1.1.6 Multi use of cows (milk, calves and meat).......................................................... 12 1.2 Animal housing and in-barn manure management ................................................... 12 1.2.1 New low-emission livestock and poultry housing systems................................. 12 1.2.2 Ventilation........................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2.1 Natural ventilation...................................................................................... 13 1.2.2.2 Ventilation rate........................................................................................... 14 1.2.2.3 Decreasing of air velocity above manure................................................... 14 1.2.3 Reducing the temperature of the manure and surfaces it covers......................... 15 1.2.4 Purification of animal house emissions (filtration technologies)........................ 15 1.2.5 Tied systems instead of loose-housing systems .................................................. 17 1.2.6 Cages and aviaries instead of floor systems for layer hens................................. 18 1.2.7 Reduction of manure contaminated surface areas............................................... 19 1.2.8 Keeping surfaces, manure and animals dry......................................................... 20 1.2.8.1 Improved drinking systems........................................................................ 20 1.2.8.2 Drying of manure ....................................................................................... 20 1.2.8.3 Keeping animals clean and dry .................................................................. 22 1.2.9 Absorption of urine / Use of bedding material.................................................... 22 1.2.9.1 Straw-based systems .................................................................................. 23 1.2.9.2 Deep litter systems ..................................................................................... 24 1.2.10 Slurry-based systems / Deep dung channels ....................................................... 25 1.2.11 Rapid separation of faeces and urine................................................................... 26 1.2.12 Partly or fully slatted floors................................................................................. 28 1.2.13 Frequent manure removal.................................................................................... 28 1.3 Grassland and grazing management.......................................................................... 31 1.3.1 Extension of grazing in comparison to animal housing ...................................... 31 1.3.2 Adaptation of fertilisation on demand................................................................. 32 1.3.3 Consideration of pasture age and composition ................................................... 33 1.3.4 High sugar grasses............................................................................................... 34 1.3.5 Increase of N fixation.......................................................................................... 35 1.3.6 Groundwater level adjustments for grassland (e.g. by drainage)........................ 36 1.3.7 Conversion of arable land to grasslands.............................................................. 36 1.3.8 Cattle winter management................................................................................... 37 1.4 Feeding strategies...................................................................................................... 37 1.4.1 Optimised plant and animal production .............................................................. 38 1.4.2 Analysis of forage and fodder ............................................................................. 38 1.4.3 Improve forage quality........................................................................................ 39 1.4.4 Reduction of feed imports / More feed production on farm scale or local level. 40 1.4.5 Mechanical treatment of feed.............................................................................. 41 1.4.6 Chemical treatment of low quality feedstuffs ..................................................... 42 1.4.7 Optimisation of livestock feeding / Adjusting livestock feed composition ........ 42 1.4.7.1 Low nitrogen feed ...................................................................................... 42 2 MEACAP – D7a Technical and management-based mitigation measures in agriculture – June 2005 1.4.7.2 Minimising protein over-consumption / Increase of amino acids.............. 43 1.4.7.3 Replacing roughage by concentrates.......................................................... 44 1.4.7.3.1 Including more non-structural carbohydrates in concentrates ............... 45 1.4.7.4 High fat diet................................................................................................ 46 1.4.7.5 (Multi)Phase feeding.................................................................................. 46 1.4.7.6 Increasing rumen efficiency:...................................................................... 47 1.4.7.6.1 Hexose partitioning ................................................................................ 48 1.4.7.6.2 Propionate precursors............................................................................. 48 1.4.7.6.3 Directly fed microbes (acetogens, methane oxidisers)........................... 49 1.4.7.6.4 Genetic engineering/modification.......................................................... 50 1.4.7.6.5 Immunisation / Immunogenic approach................................................. 51 1.4.7.6.6 Defaunation (alteration of bacterial flora).............................................. 51 1.4.8 Increasing animal productivity through the use of additives .............................. 52 1.4.8.1 Oils / Fats ................................................................................................... 52 1.4.8.2 Probiotics.................................................................................................... 53 1.4.8.3 Enzymes ..................................................................................................... 54 1.4.8.4 Antibiotics.................................................................................................. 55 1.4.8.4.1 Ionophores.............................................................................................. 55 1.4.8.5 Halogenated compounds ............................................................................ 56 1.4.8.6 Hormones ................................................................................................... 57 1.4.8.6.1 Steroids................................................................................................... 57 1.4.8.6.2 Growth hormones - Bovine somatotropin.............................................. 57 1.5 Outdoor manure management (storage techniques).................................................. 58 1.5.1 Decreasing or eliminating the airflow across slurry and FYM ........................... 58 1.5.2 Reducing the temperature of manure .................................................................. 59 1.5.3 Reducing the pH of manure ................................................................................ 59 1.5.4 Manure additives................................................................................................. 59 1.5.5 Reducing the surface per unit volume of slurry or FYM stores.......................... 60 1.5.6 Mechanical separation of solids of manure......................................................... 61 1.5.7 Composting of solid manure or slurry with added solids or of FYM ................. 61 1.5.8 Controlled denitrification processes in slurry ..................................................... 62 1.5.9 Controlled aeration during slurry storage............................................................ 63 1.5.10 Minimising