Dairy farming systems based on efficient nutrient management.

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F.M. Aarts ◽  
E.E. Biewing ◽  
H. van Keulen
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Dutch Government ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Initial Results

In Dutch dairy farming, dramatic nutrient losses occur, causing serious environmental problems, and representing an economic and energy waste. So farming systems have to be developed based on efficient nutrient management. A dairy farm is characterized as a system with soils and crops, forage, cattle, and manure as main components. Simple models of nutrient flows in and between components of the farming system were used to design a prototype system for a new experimental farm on sandy soil, which has to meet strict environmental demands. Experimental results of this farm will be used to improve the models and the models will be used again to optimize the prototype system. Initial results of modelling suggest that nutrient losses can be reduced considerably by more accurate management, and introduction of relatively cheap and simple measures. However, more radical and expensive modifications of the farming system are necessary to meet further standards of the Dutch government for max. allowable emissions. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Nitrous oxide emission from dairy farming systems in the Netherlands

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.L. Velthof ◽  
O. Oenema
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Nutrient Emissions

A large part of the nitrogen (N) input in dairy farming systems in the Netherlands is lost from the system via N leaching and volatilization of gaseous N compounds, including the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). The aim of the present study was to quantify N2O emission from dairy farming systems in the Netherlands, using a whole-farm approach. A total of 14 N2O sources was identified and emission factors were derived for each of these using the literature. Figures are presented for the amounts of N2O produced/kg herbage N produced (ranging from 4 to 89 g N2O-N kg-1 herbage N), depending on soil type and grassland management. Using Monte Carlo simulations, variations in mean total N2O emissions from the different sources were calculated for 3 model dairy farming systems differing in nutrient management. These different farming systems were chosen to assess the effect of improved nutrient management on total N2O emission. The total direct annual N2O emissions ranged from 15.4 +or-9.4 kg N2O-N/ha for the average dairy farming system in the 1980s to 5.3 +or-2.6 kg N2O-N/ha for a prototype of an economically feasible farming system with acceptable nutrient emissions. Leaching-derived, grazing-derived and fertilizer-derived N2O emissions were the major N2O sources on dairy farming systems. The total direct N2O emissions accounted for 3.2 to 4.6% of the N surplus on the dairy farming systems, suggesting that only a small amount of N was lost as N2O. Total N2O emissions from dairy farming systems in the Netherlands were 13.7+or-5.1 Gg N/year, which is about 35% of the estimated total N2O emission in the Netherlands. It is concluded that improvement of nutrient management of dairy farming systems will significantly decrease the N2O emissions from these systems, and thus the total N2O emission in the Netherlands.

Farm structural change of a different kind: Alternative dairy farms in Wisconsin—graziers, organic and Amish

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Brock ◽  
Bradford Barham
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Structural Trend ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
And Performance

AbstractAlthough the emergence of large confinement operations out of a system previously dominated by mid-sized confinement has been one major structural trend in Wisconsin dairy farming since the 1990s, a second structural trend has been the significant emergence of moderate-sized dairy farms using alternative management strategies: management-intensive rotational grazing (MIRG) (25% of Wisconsin's dairy farms), organic production (3%) and Amish farm production practices (5–7%). This paper presents the first systematic and representative comparative study on the structure, behavior and performance of multiple pasture-based dairy farm strategies. Wisconsin is an ideal site for this study given the prevalence of pasture-based farms, yet many of the findings here should be relevant for other traditional dairy states where similar types of alternative farm management systems are also emerging. Divergence with respect to farm strategy has implications for structure, technology and management adoption patterns as well as farmer satisfaction levels. Our findings suggest that alternative dairy farming systems are likely to become more prevalent on the agricultural landscape of Wisconsin.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF THE FARMERS PRACTICING DIFFERENT FARMING SYSTEMS IN MANDYA DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (no 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shwetha N.V ◽  
Sharad Sachan ◽  
Y. N. Shivalingaiah
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Livelihood Security ◽  
Cent Level ◽  
Extension Professionals ◽  
Level Of Significance

The survey was conducted during 2018-19 in Mandya district of Karnataka to analyse the livelihood security of the farmers practicing divergent farming systems. From Mandya district two taluks were considered i.e., K.R.Pete and Pandavapura. Major farming systems in each taluk were identified after thorough discussion with extension professionals of line departments and interaction with farmers and two predominant farming systems were selected from each taluk i.e., ‘paddy+dairy’ and ‘paddy+dairy+horticulture’ farming systems from K.R.Pete taluk and ‘sugrcane+dairy’ and ‘sugarcane+dairy+horticulture’ farming systems from Pandavapura taluk. For each farming system 30 respondents were selected, hence the total respondents selected was 120. A comprehensive scale was developed to measure livelihood security of the respondents adopting divergent farming systems. The study revealed that, under ‘paddy+dairy’ farming system, more than half (66.66 %) of the farmers fall under poor level of livelihood security. In ‘paddy+dairy+horticulture’ farming system more than two fifth (43.33 %) of the respondents fall under average extent of livelihood security. In case of ‘sugarcane+dairy’ farming system, 40.00 %) of the respondents fall under to poor extent of livelihood security. In case of ‘sugarcane+dairy+horticulture’ farming system, more than half (53.33 %) of the farmers belonged to average level of livelihood security. Furthermore, the results also showed that, there is a symbolic difference between livelihood security of farmers practicing ‘paddy+dairy’ and ‘paddy+dairy+horticulture’ farming systems at 1 per cent level of consequence. The U (6.00) value indicated that, there is a symbolic difference between livelihood security of farmers practicing ‘sugarcane+dairy’ and ‘sugarcane+dairy+horticulture’ at 1 per cent level of significance. The Chi-square value (24.40) indicates there is a symbolic difference between livelihood security of the farmers practicing ‘paddy + dairy’, ‘pa

scholarly journals Mixing specialized farming systems in Flevoland (The Netherlands): agronomic, environmental and socio-economic effects

1999 ◽  
pp. 185-200
Author(s):  
J.F.F.P. Bos ◽  
G.W.J. Van De Ven
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Nutrient Balances ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Labour Income ◽  
Key Factor

Mixed farming systems have potential agronomic, environmental and socio-economic advantages over specialized farming systems. This paper attempts to quantify these advantages for the Dutch province Flevoland. A mixed farming system at regional level is characterized by intensive cooperation between two or more specialized farms, each producing crop or animal products. To test the hypothesis that such a mixed farming system might improve sustainability of agriculture in Flevoland, nutrient balances, labour requirements and labour income were quantified for a specialized arable farm, a specialized dairy farm and both combined into a mixed farming system, exchanging land, labour and machinery. Scope for reduced biocide use in the mixed farming system was assessed in a qualitative way. In the mixed farming system, labour income per ha was 25% higher. Seventy percent of this increase could be explained through higher yields per ha of the profitable crops ware potato (Solanum tuberosum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). The remaining 30% resulted from lower costs, mainly through a better utilization of available labour. Differences between the combined nutrient balance of both specialized farms and that of the mixed farming system were small. Indications of reduced biocide use in the mixed farming system could not be found. It was concluded that in a mixed farming system, it is possible to realize a higher income without increasing environmental pollution. Key factor is the ratio between animal and arable production, determining the extent to which crop rotations can be widened and the relative amounts of slurry that can be applied to grassland.

scholarly journals Limits to intensity of milk production in sandy areas in The Netherlands

1999 ◽  
pp. 263-277
Author(s):  
H.F.M. Aarts ◽  
B. Habekotte ◽  
H. Van Keulen
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Attractive Option ◽  
The Impact

Agricultural land in sandy areas is mainly in use by dairy farms. As a result of intensive fertilisation and irrigation, environmental quality is threatened by lost nutrients and lowered groundwater levels. Therefore, Dutch government put decreasing limits to losses of nutrients, with lowest values for well-drained sandy soils. Besides, use of groundwater for irrigation will be restricted. Reducing milk production per hectare can be effective to reduce nutrient losses but is costly, as is the increase of output of nutrients by exporting manure. Improved resource management, leading to reduced inputs per kg milk, might be a more attractive option to realise both environmental and economic goals. This paper describes a procedure to quantify the impact of management on the limits of milk production per hectare on well-drained sandy soils, at defined maximum levels of permitted nutrient losses. The procedure has been applied to a range of farming systems, in order of increasing complexity of nutrient management. It is concluded that current average milk production intensity (12,400 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)) has to be reduced drastically if farm management is not successful in increasing the conversion of dietary N (into milk and body weight) and the re-use of N in manure. On the other hand, results suggest that an intensity of almost 15,000 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) should be attainable by best farmers.

scholarly journals The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Reducing Dairy Farm Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2612
Author(s):  
Alun Scott ◽  
Richard Blanchard
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Ghg Reduction ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
The Impact

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy farms are significant contributors to global warming. However, much of the published work on GHG reduction is focused on either methane (CH4) or nitrous oxide (N2O), with few, if any, considering the interactions that changes to farming systems can have on both gases. This paper takes the raw data from a year of activity on a 300-cow commercial dairy farm in Northern Ireland to more accurately quantify GHG sources by use of a simple predictive model based on IPCC methodology. Differing herd management policies are examined together with the impact of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) into each farming system. Whilst significant success can be predicted in capturing CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) as biogas and preventing N2O emissions, gains made can be lost in a subsequent process, negating some or all of the advantage. The process of extracting value from the captured resource is discussed in light of current farm parameters together with indications of other potential revenue streams. However, this study has concluded that despite the significant potential for GHG reduction, there is little incentive for widespread adoption of manure-based farm-scale AD in the UK at this time.

Transition to self-sufficient mixed crop–dairy farming systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Coquil ◽  
Pascal Béguin ◽  
Benoît Dedieu
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Professional Networks ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Mixed Crop ◽  
Work Routines

AbstractWhile plains favorable to agriculture are still dominated by specialized and intensive agriculture, self-sufficient mixed crop-dairy farming systems increasingly attract policy makers' and scientists' attention. Owing to their limited use of purchased inputs, they can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Furthermore, self-sufficient farming tends to be linked with a search for autonomy in decision-making, i.e., farmers developing their own technical reference framework. Such farming systems can thus also contribute to alternative development pathways of rural territories. In this paper, we analyze how ten intensive mixed crop–dairy farms have progressively evolved toward more self-sufficient and autonomous systems. Through formalizing farmers' transitionin action, we identified 34 tools that the farmers implemented making them reflect on their farming system, shift socio-professional networks, reorganize work routines, and steer the evolution of their production practices. For example, they created temporary pastures in crop rotation, introduced rotational pastures, observed their herds to adjust their feed and keep the animals in good health, and they limited expenditures to manage their cash flow. Which tools were used and when they were used depends on what is meaningful to them at various stages of the transition. Our analysis of transitionsin actionhas three original features: it is centered on the transition as perceived by the actors who experience and manage it; it proposes a long-term conceptualization of the dynamics of farming systems, based on the farmer's initiative and creativity; and it highlights tools implemented by farmers during the transition to self-sufficiency and autonomy.

scholarly journals Economic impact of pregnancy loss in an intensive dairy farming system

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Albuja ◽  
Oscar Ortiz ◽  
Carlos López ◽  
Joel Hernández Cerón
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
First 90 Days

Occurrence of pregnancy loss and the related economic impact were determined in an intensively managed dairy herd. A total of 3,204 cow and heifer pregnancies were included over a two year period. Pregnancy loss was considered when: (1) cows or heifers that were diagnosed as pregnant by transrectal palpation, on days 50 to 50 postinsemination returned to estrus; (2) animals were found not to be pregnant at diagnosis confirmation on day 90, day 180, or during the drying-off period; and (3) if an abortion was clinically diagnosed. Data were analyzed through descriptive epidemiology and by survival analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method. The estimated cost of a single pregnancy loss was determined by the Monte Carlo methodology. Overall, 17.2% of cows (372/2,162) and 6.5% of heifers (68/1,042) had pregnany losses; the greater risk being in the first 90 days of gestation for cows (5.3/100 and 8.3/100 pregnancies in 2012 and 2013, respectively). Occurrence of pregnancy loss in heifers was also higher during the first trimester of gestation (1.7/100) in 2013. However, the pregnancy loss incidence peaked, between days 120 and 150 of gestation (1.7/100) in 2012. The cost of a single pregnancy loss during the first trimester was estimated at $5,253.00 (Mexican pesos), between days 91 and 180 at $9,674.00; and for over 181 days at $21,984.00. In conclusion, overall pregnancy loss rate in the studied herd was 17.2% for cows and 6.5% for heifers. The highest incidence of pregnancy loss occurred during the first 90 days of pregnancy. Thus, pregnancy loss may be the main reproductive cause affecting profitability of intensive dairy farming systems.

scholarly journals RESILIENCE IN DAIRY FARM BUSINESSES; TO BOUNCE WITHOUT BREAKING

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1138-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Shadbolt ◽  
Femi Olubode-Awosola ◽  
Bvundzai Rutsito
Keyword(s):  
Buffer Capacity ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Pca Method ◽  
Surrogate Measures

New Zealand dairy farmers face an increasingly turbulent business environment. To cope with a turbulent environment, they need to have resilient farming systems that have the capacity to better deal with volatility. The main purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of what resilience means for dairy farming and to determine how it might be measured. Resilience can be described as buffer capacity, adaptability and transformability with increasing degrees of change required with each. The research for this paper focused on buffer capacity, the ability of a farming system to bounce without breaking, and carried out rigorous statistical analysis of the DairyBase database to identify resilience surrogate measures. Of the three attributes of buffer capacity the PCA method identified that the dominant attribute was resistance (both technical and financial efficiency), the less dominant were precariousness (solvency) and latitude (liquidity) attributes. In conclusion, the farms that were able to demonstrate both short-term optimization and long-term adaptability were those that were neither low input nor high input pasture based farms. They had farming systems that were able to both respond to favourable and unfavourable conditions to improve or protect results respectively; they displayed the flexibility to bounce and not break.

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