Adhering to the new maximum stocking rates under the nitrates derogation is a challenge for the farms affected by the change.
A reduction in stock numbers, the export of slurry and the addition of more land are currently the only real options for farmers affected by the changes.
But as previously highlighted by Agriland, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) is seeking the adoption of a number of measures to help farms impacted by the drop.
These measures won’t help farms move back to 250kg/ha, but it will help reduce the organic stocking rate of animals within the herd.
Speaking at the ICMSA meeting in Co. Cavan on Monday, January 23, Denis Drennan the president of ICMSA outlined the measures and how they would impact two sample farms.
The measures included the reduce protein content of the concentrate feed, the reduced organic stocking rate of replacement heifer (1-2-year-olds) and the reduction in the excretion rates of calves from 6kg to 1kg for the first 12 weeks of life.
Although not currently signed off on, the adoption of these measures would result in the overall reduced organic stocking rate of farms and move them closer to the new maximum stocking rate under the nitrates derogation of 220kg of organic nitrogen (N).
Sample farm
Using an example of a dairy farm with a total of 45ha (111ac), with 100 cows, 20 replacement heifers, 80 calves sold at six weeks and 20 heifer calves.
The farm has an average production of 5,000L/cow which places it in band two.
Currently the stocking rate of this farm is as follows:
- 100 cows (92kg x 100) = 9,200kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement heifers (57kg x 20) = 1,140kg of organic N;
- 80 calves, on farm for six weeks ((24x(6/52)kg x 80) = 221.5 kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement calves (24kg x 20) = 480kg of organic N.
Based on these figures the total organic N on this farm is 11,041.5kg, with means that the farm is stocked at 245.36kg of organic N/ha.
Placing this farm over the current limit of 220kg of organic N and close to the previous limit of 250kg.
Drennan explained that by reducing crude protein in the concentrate, changing the N excretion figure for the calves and heifers, this farm could get down to 228kg of organic N/ha.
If the changes being sought by the ICMSA were adopted:
- 100 cows (87kg x 100) = 8,700kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement heifers (55kg x 20) = 1,100kg of organic N;
- 80 Calves, on farm for six weeks (1 x 6/12)kg x 80) = 40kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement calves (21kg x 20) = 420kg of organic N.
This would reduce the total organic N of the farm down to 10,260kg and would mean an organic stocking rate/ha of 228kg.
He said that these changes would result in 781.5kg less N being levied on this sample farm in band two.
The farm would still need to be get below the 220kg of organic N limit under the nitrates derogation, but this could be achieved by adopting one of three measures – culling four cows, exporting slurry or acquiring 1.6ha of land.
It was noted by Drennan that the cow excretion rate dropping to 87kg of N, is the equivalent of almost nine cows that this farmer would not have to cull.
Nitrates
The second sample farm outlined by Drennan was 49.8ha (123ac), with 100 cows, 20 replacement heifers, 80 calves sold at six weeks, and 20 heifer calves.
The farm has an average production of 7,000L/cow which places it in band three.
Currently the stocking rate of this farm is as follows:
- 100 cows (106kg x 100) = 10,600kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement heifers (57kg x 20) = 1,140kg of organic N;
- 80 calves, on farm for six weeks ((24x(6/52)kg x 80) = 221.5 kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement calves (24kg x 20) = 480kg of organic N.
Based on these figures the total organic N on this farm is 12,441.5kg, which means that the farm is stocked at 249.8kg of organic N/ha.
Once again this places this farm over the current limit of 220kg of organic N and close to the previous limit of 250kg.
Using the same measures as the previous farm, the organic N stocking rate of this farm could be reduced to 228.1kg of N/ha.
If the changes being sought by the ICMSA were adopted:
- 100 cows (98kg x 100) = 9,800kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement heifers (55kg x 20) = 1,100kg of organic N;
- 80 Calves, on farm for six weeks ((1 x 6/12)kg x 80) = 40kg of organic N;
- 20 replacement calves (21kg x 20) = 420kg of organic N.
This would reduce the total organic N of the farm down to 11,360kg and would mean an organic stocking rate/ha of 228.1kg.
The adoption of these measures would result in the total N levied on this farm reducing by 1,081.5kg.
Again the farm would still need to adopt more measures to get below the 220kg of organic N limit, but this could be achieved by adopting one of three measures – culling six cows, exporting slurry or acquiring 2.7ha of land.
For this farm reducing the excretion rate of the cows from 106kg to 98kg would result in the saving of equivalent of 11 cows.
The ICMSA is seeking the adoption of this measures to offer some flexibility to dairy farmers impacted by the drop of the maximum stocking rate.
Drennan has told Agriland, that he hopeful these measures will be introduced this year and be backdated for the full year.