The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued a letter to farmers informing them of “intended changes under the interim review of the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP)”.
The letter informs farmers that Teagasc research has shown the excretion rates of heifers aged one-to-two years should be reduced while excretion rates of male cattle aged one-to-two years should be increased.
The letter outlines:
“Teagasc research shows the excretion rate for cattle aged one-to-two years should be amended from the current value of 57kg N/year, to 55kg N/year in respect of females and 61kg N/year in respect of males to reflect the most recent scientific data.”
The intended changes would see the organic stocking rate of farmers specialising in male cattle increase, which is something these these farmers need to be aware of.
Nitrates rule changes for calves
It also notes that at present, under the Nitrates Regulations, a bovine aged zero-to-one years is considered to excrete 24kg of nitrogen (N) in the year.
It outlined that Teagasc research shows the young calf “has a much lower excretion rate than the older animal”.
“As a result, it is proposed that the zero-to-one-year-old bovine’s nutrient excretion rate will be split into two sub-categories, with 1kg being excreted over the period when the animal is aged zero-to-three months and 20kg being excreted over the period when the animal is aged four-to-12 months.”
The review is being conducted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and is a requirement of the current action programme covering the period 2022 to end of 2025.
The letter, which is signed off by the head of water and air quality division, Edward Massey added: “This will result in further proposals to protect water quality and help to build a case for the renewal of the Nitrates Derogation in 2026.”
It notes that subject to “the appropriate assessment and the strategic environmental assessment processes, including the public consultation, it is proposed that the excretion rates outlined above will be used at year end to calculate each holding’s stocking rate for 2024”.