Schouten maximizes crude protein content of concentrates

Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten will set maximum limits for the crude protein content of concentrates in the Netherlands. There will be a temporary arrangement for this that must take effect on 1 September 2020. With this, Schouten wants to reduce nitrogen deposition from dairy farming.

The minister announced this on Wednesday morning at a press meeting at the ministry in The Hague. The temporary regulation for dairy farming, with a duration of 4 months, must be submitted to the House of Representatives, the Senate and the European Commission. Schouten emphasizes that as much as possible is looked at what is practically feasible for the farmer. 

The 'feed track' is expected to yield an annual reduction of 0,2 kiloton in ammonia reduction compared to the reference year 2018. The arrangement is temporary, because Schouten wants to make feed agreements with the Dutch dairy farm to achieve a structural reduction in nitrogen deposition after 2020 .

Book nitrogen gain
With the scheme, the minister wants to achieve nitrogen gains as quickly as possible to make room for housing and a number of infrastructural projects. The warm remediation of pig farming and the reduction of speed on the highways should also contribute to this. The ministry says in a statement that it has been deliberately chosen to look at concentrates in limiting the crude protein content.

According to the statement, Dutch dairy farmers generally feed more protein than the cows need. The protein that the animal does not absorb is expelled again as nitrogen. "By limiting the protein content in the feed, nitrogen emissions are reduced. The scheme ensures that this is not at the expense of animal health and production," according to the ministry. "Power feed makes up about a quarter of the total ration of dairy cattle and acts as the 'control knob' to optimize the ration."

Adjust feed and grass management
A dairy cow can suffice with 155 grams of protein per kilogram of dry matter in the total ration without consequences for animal health and production, writes Schouten in a letter to the House of Representatives. "Nationally, the current level is about 165 grams. A decline in protein content often requires an adjustment of feed and grass management," says Schouten.

Animal health problems cannot be ruled out below a level of 155 grams of crude protein per kilogram of dry matter at ration level, says Schouten. This can occur on farms with a very large share of maize in the ration. According to the minister, this could concern 'a few hundred companies'. In order to meet this need, the temporary regulation also provides for separate regimes for these trouble spots, emphasizes Schouten. 

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.