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Nitrogen and phosphate excretion below EU ceiling
In 2022, both the excretion of nitrogen and phosphate were below the ceilings set by the European Commission for Dutch livestock. However, phosphate almost reached the ceiling. This is evident from the final figures of Statistics Netherlands. After complete phasing out of the derogation, nitrogen excretion must be 2025% lower in 6 than in 2022 and that of phosphate 11% in order to continue to meet the production ceilings.
The excretion of nitrogen in animal manure amounted to 467 million kilos last year. That is slightly (0,8%) less than a year earlier and 4,6% below the nitrogen ceiling applicable in 2022. Last year, excretion was 7% below the nitrogen ceiling. In 2025 (after the derogation has been phased out), the production ceiling will be reduced to 440 million kilos. This is a decrease of 6% from 2022.
Dairy cattle
Dairy cows and young cattle excreted 269 million kilos of nitrogen last year. That is 1,4% less than in 2021. Since 2018, nitrogen emissions from the dairy sector have been falling. The phosphate production of the dairy sector was higher last year at 77 million kilos than in 2021, when it amounted to 74 million kilos. The fact that dairy farming produces less nitrogen but more phosphate is partly due to the composition of the roughage (grass and silage maize), Statistics Netherlands reports. "The grass silage that was fed in 2022 consists largely of the grass harvest of 2021 and partly of the harvest of 2022. In those years, the nitrogen content of the grass was relatively low, so that the average nitrogen content was also lower."
The total phosphate production of livestock remained below the phosphate ceiling at 150 million kilos. However, 1,6% more phosphate was excreted than a year earlier. The total is therefore only 0,2% below the phosphate ceiling. In 2025, the total phosphate ceiling will be lowered to 135 million kilos. A drop of 11%. Since 2017, nitrogen excretion from livestock has decreased by 45 million kilos, and phosphate excretion by 19 million kilos. This is mainly because fewer cows and young stock are kept.
Linda van Eekeres
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