INTERVIEW ▶▶▶
in protein. The rule here is: what doesn’t go in, doesn’t come out. It can be quite hard to manage. On average, cattle farmers feed too much protein. When milk production doesn’t run smoothly, feed consultants often suggest putting more protein in the ration, because it increases milk production. When you don’t know the underlying cause, you just advise using more protein. The chances are that production will increase and the customer will be happy.”
Would that not exacerbate the nitrogen and methane problems? “The whole sector needs to be convinced that it should get to work to fix this. When the sector itself doesn’t spring into action, the government will intervene forcefully. Enter a covenant about protein in compound feed and about methane, which is what happened with phosphate in the Netherlands. Feed companies should assume the role of feed expert and consultant and should focus less on selling as many tons of product as possible. Only suggest high protein when it’s actually necessary. Advise as well as possible, fitting the cattle farmer’s need for an optimal operat- ing result but also fitting society’s need to protect the environ- ment. Keep the importance of the sector within the socially ac- cepted image in mind: without a ‘license to produce’, cattle farming deteriorates.”
The DSM feed supplement Bovaer is being developed right now for reducing methane. Adding this methane blocker leads to 20% less emissions. You have conducted research on this in Wageningen. What’s the status of this miracle agent? “The good thing about Bovaer is that it’s persistent. For many oth- er methane blockers, long-term effectiveness is still a question mark. The European Food Safety Authority must decide about its admission now. This should come through somewhere at the end of 2020, but the focus on corona research may cause delays.”
That’s impressive: 20% less emissions. Why not implement this right away? “It costs cattle farmers more money, without delivering extra milk yield in return. If the government wants to reduce methane, it can either do so through punishing or through rewarding farmers. In this case, large environmental benefits can be obtained through rewards. The greenhouse gas production per kilogram of milk can be specified per farm, which the government can use a reward or punishment standard.”
Can the compound feed industry do more? “Of course, for example by adding extra fat to feed. One percent extra fat leads to 5% less methane. Go to roughly 7% (not too high). More fat does mean more expensive feed. Choose unsatu- rated fatty acids. Rumen-resistant saturated fat can have a negative impact on cheese processing.”
How about phosphate? 22 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 6, 2020
“ In the Netherlands,thanks to the covenant, phosphate excretion has already decreased significantly. It can be cut even more, by millions of kilograms. In the Netherlands, every kilogram of milk contains 1,010 milligrams of phosphorus on average. The num- bers indicate that this can be reduced by at least 3 kilograms per lactation. The fear of a phosphorus shortage is almost always un- necessary. The challenge for the compound feed industry lies in low-phosphorus feed. Recent research indicates that low phos- phorus during the drying-off period can help to prevent low calci- um levels in the blood in the first day/days after calving. It helps to prevent ketosis in much the same fashion.”
And ammonia? “Nitrogen in urine, which results in ammonia emissions, is largely avoidable. Ensure a proper balance between rumen-degradable protein and rumen-degradable carbohydrates (for energy). This leads to less nitrogen in the cows’ urine. In the future, it will be- come even more important to prevent the disbalance between energy absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and absorbed amino acids, leading to less nitrogen in the urine. Farmers can manage this by using compound feed and by watching the dura- bility of nutrients, depending on the feed system.”
What are the opportunities for using other raw materials? “Low-protein raw materials are almost always low in phosphorus, too. There is much variation between these raw materials. Soy- bean meal for example has a better balance between protein and phosphorus than rapeseed meal. There are opportunities for feed- ing starchy by-products such as potatoes. Grains also work very well, such as crushed wheat and soda grain, which is produced by ‘unlocking’ the wheat with caustic soda. You can process different protein sources, such as field beans, seaweed and algae, but also insect protein (which is not formally admitted yet, ed.). We should close the mineral cycle locally or regionally, for example by using waste flows. We also need to keep developing knowledge about how to use nitrogen and phosphorus as sparsely as possible.”
Does choosing durable raw materials means more expen- sive feed? “Cheap can also mean expensive in the long run. You need to keep the eventual value of the milk and meat in mind. Precise feeding is necessary, no matter what.”
How does that work? “It’s a challenge and requires a great deal of customisation to feed the animals individually. It will be possible in the future with all kinds of sensors, but we’re not quite there yet. Larger farms can work with production groups, which is a great step towards refin- ing even more. Managing feed in the parlour is easiest and it’s most effective for nitrogen, ammonia and methane. It gets more difficult for animals put out to pasture. You can’t add much with compound feed, so you need to focus on your grass management. Making sure that the cows eat high-quality roughage is important.”
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