News Manure
Less nitrogen from manure, (still) above new ceiling
449 million kilos of nitrogen were excreted from animal manure in 2024. This was reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) based on provisional figures. Although this is less than the 464 million kilos of the previous year (-3%) - and below the nitrogen ceiling of 2024 - this must be further reduced this year in order to fall below the tightened nitrogen ceiling of this year.
In 2024, nitrogen excretion in manure from cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock remained 8% below the nitrogen ceiling of 2024 million kilos applicable for 489,4, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The tightened nitrogen ceiling that applies this year is 440 million kilos. The amount of nitrogen excreted from animal manure in 2024 is 2% above that.
Less nitrogen but more phosphate excretion by dairy cattle
Dairy cows and young cattle excreted 2024 million kilos of nitrogen in 267, 3% less than in 2023. Since 2017, nitrogen excretion by dairy cattle has been decreasing. According to Statistics Netherlands, this is mainly due to the decrease in the number of cows, but nitrogen excretion per animal has also decreased. Phosphate excretion per dairy cow has actually increased slightly.
Total phosphate excretion from animal manure was 148 million kilos, comparable to 2023 and 2% below the phosphate ceiling, but above the 135 million kilos that will come into effect this year. Dairy and young cattle were responsible for 78 million kilos of phosphate. That is an increase of 3% year-on-year.
According to the CBS, the dairy sector produced more phosphate but less nitrogen due to changes in the composition of the roughage, such as silage grass and silage maize. "The phosphorus content of the roughage fed was higher in 2024 than the year before, while that was not the case for nitrogen."
Less nitrogen and phosphate pigs
In pigs and poultry, both nitrogen and phosphate excretion from manure decreased, partly due to a decrease in the number of animals. In the pig sector, excretion decreased by 3% compared to 2023 to 79 million kilos of nitrogen and 32 million kilos of phosphate. In other livestock (including beef cattle, horses, sheep and goats), nitrogen excretion decreased in 2024 on an annual basis and phosphate emissions remained stable.
Linda van Eekeres
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