Agrifirm is committed to phosphate reduction

In 2017, dairy farming was given the task of significantly reducing phosphate production. Agrifirm also announces that it wishes to contribute to this. Because the ultimate goal (maintaining the derogation for the application standards of manure) is too important to take a risk, the company has set itself an ambitious target.

The cooperative feed group, together with its members, says it can achieve a reduction of 1,1 million kg of phosphate. We then look further than just the feed track. It is taken for granted that it will probably be at the expense of the sale of concentrates, from which the company derives part of its income.   

Feed track the least you can do
Via the Nevedi, all producers of concentrates participate in a reduction of the phosphorus content in animal feed. 'The minimum you can do as a feed company is stick to the feed track', says Ronald van de Ven, director of Agrifirm Feed NWE. In 2015, the company already succeeded in reducing the phosphorus content in compound feed by 5 percent. Recently, a further drop of 5 percent has been recorded. 'Below the standard of 4,3 grams per kilogram.'

But livestock farmers can do much more in the field of feed. 'The quality of the roughage can be improved by growing more crops with a higher dry matter yield and higher nutritional value', says John Smit, director of Agrifirm Plant. 'For example, extra grass-clover can be oversown on suitable soils or concentrate crops, such as fodder beets, can be grown.' Better roughage can mean that less concentrates need to be used.    

Calving effect on phosphate
According to the feed company, another way to reduce the production of phosphate in the livestock is an earlier calving age. According to the company, it can be reduced by 2 months. 'If more livestock farmers apply this strategy, this will result in a significant reduction in phosphate. We are already seeing many good results of this in practice', says Van de Ven. The company emphasizes the importance of putting the members first, because the measures 'will reduce our compound feed volumes.' A necessary sacrifice.

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Herman van den Pol

Herma van den Pol has been with us since 2011 Boerenbusiness and has developed over the years into a market expert Milk & Feed. In addition, she can be seen weekly in the market flash about the dairy market.

h.vandenpol@boerenbusiness. Nl

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