SimsDairy provides the opportunity to examine several emission mitigation strategies (greenhouse gas and other nitrogen emissions) for a dairy cattle farm and the size of this mitigation effect for this farming system.
An example, using realistic values, is provided in the MilKey platform in order to give information about the functionality and the results of the SimsDairy model regarding the effect of mitigation strategies on the emissions from a dairy cattle system in comparison to a reference scenario (baseline). Therefore, the results presented in this chapter of the MilKey platform are a product of simulations and they are not derived from real data acquired from the dairy cattle farming systems examined during the MilKey project. The results will be updated after the acceptance of a manuscript that has been submitted for publication.
The potential effect of various mitigation strategies to the contribution of these GHG emission sources to the total
GHG emissions, emitted N substances to the total N emissions, and N hotspots to the total N emissions of the dairy
cattle farming system can be shown in the following steps:
Check the mitigation practices that have been assessed: Each time the cursor is placed on a
mitigation practice (from the list below), the user is able to see a short description of this practice.
Click on the mitigation practice: The user is able to see the effect of the mitigation practice
on the contribution of the various sources to the total GHG emissions. This is done in comparison to the
relevant effect of the baseline scenario. The tables and the figures for the baseline and the mitigation
scenarios are simultaneously visible to the user, allowing an easier visual comparison of these results. A note
appears to the user explaining if the alternative scenario tested leads to higher or lower total GHG emissions
from the dairy cattle farming system.
The key features of the dairy production systems modeled in Table 1
The mitigation methods are presented in Table 2
Table 1
Units
WCi
WOs
ECs
MCi
NCs
ACs
Location
–
Germany
Germany
Poland
Italy
Norway
Ireland
Production system
–
Conventional
Organic
Conventional
Conventional
Conventional
Conventional
Degree of intensi-
–
Intensive
Semi-extensive
Semi-extensive
Intensive
Semi-extensive
Semi-extensive
Average monthly
°C
12
11
9
14
7
10
Average monthly
mm
72
50
57
87
84
84
Soil texture
–
Sand
Sandy loam
Clay loam
Sandy loam
Clay Loam
Dairy animals
Animals
138
240
50
565
55
185
Total dairy live-
LU
184
304
83
956
91
236
Main cow breed
Name
Holstein
Holstein
Crossbreedb
Holstein
Norwegian red
Crossbreedc
Milk production
kg FPCMa
11,194
7724
8898
9547
7865
5522
Milk yield
kg animal−1 day−1
30.6
21.1
24.3
26.2
21.5
15.1
Forage-to-concen-
Ratio
60:40
80:20d
80:20
50:50
60:40
90:10
Crude protein in
%
27
15
23
20
18
14
Silage type
–
Grass/maize
Grass/maize
Grass/maize
Grass/maize
Grass
Grass
Farm area (UAA)
ha
71
495
80
270
87
87
Surface grassland
%
55
44
71
46
86
100
Grazing time
Days
0
215
164
0
139
259
Slurry storage
Type
Crusted
Crusted
Rigid
Crusted
Rigid
Crusted
Slurry application
Type
Shallow injection
Band spreading
Broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast
Shallow injection
WCi Western European conventional intensive system
WOs Western European organic semi-extensive system
ECi Central-Eastern European conventional semi-extensive system
MCi Mediterranean conventional intensive system
NCs Northern European conventional semiextensive system
ACs Atlantic conventional semi-extensive system
°C degrees centigrade, mm millimetres
LU livestock units
FPCM fat and protein corrected milk
UAA utilised agricultural area
CAN calcium ammonium nitrate
U urea
AN ammonium nitrate.
a standardised to 4% fat and 3.3% protein per kilogram of milk (IDF 2015); b Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Polish red; c Holstein and Jersey;
d 20% of the diet composed by self-produced cereal mix (no concentrates bought); e more than one typology of mineral fertiliser is applied
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Nitrogen (N) emissions
Nitrogen emission hotspots
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.320
Manure emissions
0.213
Field emissions
0.026
Other source emissions
0.325
HESc
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.320
Manure emissions
0.201
Field emissions
0.026
Other source emissions
0.325
CP
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.320
Manure emissions
0.200
Field emissions
0.022
Other source emissions
0.325
AD
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.320
Manure emissions
0.059
Field emissions
0.027
Other source emissions
0.310
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.320
Manure emissions
0.051
Field emissions
0.023
Other source emissions
0.310
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.429
Manure emissions
0.112
Field emissions
0.071
Other source emissions
0.272
HESc
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.429
Manure emissions
0.106
Field emissions
0.072
Other source emissions
0.272
HESa
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.429
Manure emissions
0.112
Field emissions
0.066
Other source emissions
0.272
AD
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.429
Manure emissions
0.031
Field emissions
0.073
Other source emissions
0.258
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.429
Manure emissions
0.031
Field emissions
0.067
Other source emissions
0.258
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.421
Manure emissions
0.150
Field emissions
0.182
Other source emissions
0.302
PI
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.371
Manure emissions
0.125
Field emissions
0.125
Other source emissions
0.401
HESa
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.421
Manure emissions
0.150
Field emissions
0.176
Other source emissions
0.302
CP
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.421
Manure emissions
0.148
Field emissions
0.181
Other source emissions
0.302
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.371
Manure emissions
0.120
Field emissions
0.120
Other source emissions
0.401
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.309
Field emissions
0.097
Other source emissions
0.543
HESa
HESc
Urea
CP
AD
Combined
HESa
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.309
Field emissions
0.084
Other source emissions
0.543
HESc
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.299
Field emissions
0.100
Other source emissions
0.543
Urea
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.309
Field emissions
0.100
Other source emissions
0.543
CP
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.302
Field emissions
0.084
Other source emissions
0.543
AD
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.153
Field emissions
0.111
Other source emissions
0.517
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.410
Manure emissions
0.150
Field emissions
0.085
Other source emissions
0.517
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.454
Manure emissions
0.111
Field emissions
0.321
Other source emissions
0.668
HESa
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.454
Manure emissions
0.111
Field emissions
0.330
Other source emissions
0.668
CP
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.454
Manure emissions
0.108
Field emissions
0.323
Other source emissions
0.668
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.454
Manure emissions
0.108
Field emissions
0.327
Other source emissions
0.668
Baseline
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.542
Manure emissions
0.124
Field emissions
0.213
Other source emissions
0.212
PI
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.483
Manure emissions
0.104
Field emissions
0.171
Other source emissions
0.350
HESc
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.542
Manure emissions
0.117
Field emissions
0.220
Other source emissions
0.212
Urea
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.542
Manure emissions
0.124
Field emissions
0.211
Other source emissions
0.212
Combined
kg CO2 -eq kg milk-1
Enteric emissions
0.483
Manure emissions
0.097
Field emissions
0.176
Other source emissions
0.350
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.754
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.219
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.048
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.476
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.483
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.256
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.023
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.473
CP
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
3.809
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.001
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.037
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.476
AD
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.338
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.386
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.025
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.473
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
3.619
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.046
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.024
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.474
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.012
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.891
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.101
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.383
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
4.946
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.890
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.089
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.382
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
4.067
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.886
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.102
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.383
AD
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.032
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.889
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.091
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.383
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
3.921
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.887
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.092
Nitrogen oxides (NOx )
0.383
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.876
Nitrate (NO3 -)
5.182
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.335
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.352
PI
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.880
Nitrate (NO3 -)
5.182
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.337
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.352
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
4.734
Nitrate (NO3 -)
5.182
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.337
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.352
CP
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.081
Nitrate (NO3 -)
5.243
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.337
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.352
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
3.453
Nitrate (NO3 -)
3.648
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.229
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.206
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
11.362
Nitrate (NO3 -)
1.609
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.167
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.547
HESa
HESc
Urea
CP
AD
Combined
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
8.511
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.082
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.146
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.544
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
11.353
Nitrate (NO3 -)
1.658
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.182
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.539
Urea
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
10.735
Nitrate (NO3 -)
1.618
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.182
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.539
CP
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
9.508
Nitrate (NO3 -)
1.360
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.150
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.547
AD
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
11.831
Nitrate (NO3 -)
1.782
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.165
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.543
AD
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
6.685
Nitrate (NO3 -)
2.025
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.165
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.537
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
8.100
Nitrate (NO3 -)
8.461
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.599
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.531
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
6.137
Nitrate (NO3 -)
8.316
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.648
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.531
CP
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
7.413
Nitrate (NO3 -)
8.707
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.606
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.532
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.639
Nitrate (NO3 -)
8.566
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.640
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.532
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.442
Nitrate (NO3 -)
14.181
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.323
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.349
PI
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
4.373
Nitrate (NO3 -)
12.476
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.247
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.219
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.287
Nitrate (NO3 -)
15.081
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.315
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.349
Urea
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
5.011
Nitrate (NO3 -)
14.147
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.322
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.349
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Ammonia (NH3 )
3.976
Nitrate (NO3 -)
13.290
Nitrogen oxide (N2 O)
0.241
Nitrogen oxides (NOX )
0.218
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.837
Housing
2.009
Storage
0.740
Fields
3.756
Silage
1.155
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.837
Housing
2.009
Storage
0.386
Fields
3.847
Silage
1.155
CP
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.501
Housing
1.201
Storage
0.484
Fields
2.978
Silage
1.158
AD
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.838
Housing
2.010
Storage
0.142
Fields
4.077
Silage
1.154
AD
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.502
Housing
1.204
Storage
0.122
Fields
3.178
Silage
1.157
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.811
Housing
0.632
Storage
0.367
Fields
6.749
Silage
0.827
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.811
Housing
0.632
Storage
0.197
Fields
6.840
Silage
0.827
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.809
Housing
0.629
Storage
0.366
Fields
5.810
Silage
0.825
AD
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.811
Housing
0.631
Storage
0.080
Fields
7.044
Silage
0.826
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.808
Housing
0.628
Storage
0.080
Fields
5.942
Silage
0.824
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.770
Housing
0.781
Storage
0.359
Fields
6.977
Silage
0.858
PI
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.834
Housing
0.858
Storage
0.341
Fields
7.244
Silage
0.495
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.770
Housing
0.781
Storage
0.359
Fields
7.837
Silage
0.858
CP
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.655
Housing
0.644
Storage
0.322
Fields
8.534
Silage
0.858
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.577
Housing
0.566
Storage
0.281
Fields
5.618
Silage
0.494
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.843
Housing
2.023
Storage
1.003
Fields
8.501
Silage
1.314
HESa
HESc
Urea
CP
AD
Combined
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.844
Housing
2.025
Storage
1.004
Fields
6.124
Silage
1.313
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.842
Housing
2.022
Storage
0.709
Fields
8.820
Silage
1.312
Urea
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.837
Housing
2.009
Storage
0.997
Fields
7.935
Silage
1.294
CP
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.676
Housing
1.622
Storage
0.876
Fields
7.072
Silage
1.319
AD
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.841
Housing
2.019
Storage
0.507
Fields
9.646
Silage
1.308
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.670
Housing
1.609
Storage
0.495
Fields
5.344
Silage
1.295
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.178
Housing
1.616
Storage
0.290
Fields
13.262
Silage
1.344
HESa
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.178
Housing
1.614
Storage
0.290
Fields
11.208
Silage
1.343
CP
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.044
Housing
1.431
Storage
0.262
Fields
13.176
Silage
1.345
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.044
Housing
1.429
Storage
0.2622
Fields
11.297
Silage
1.344
Baseline
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.096
Housing
0.664
Storage
0.437
Fields
17.260
Silage
0.837
PI
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.956
Housing
0.570
Storage
0.380
Fields
14.886
Silage
0.524
HESc
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.098
Housing
0.667
Storage
0.239
Fields
18.190
Silage
0.839
Urea
gN kg milk-1
Yards
1.098
Housing
0.664
Storage
0.438
Fields
16.793
Silage
0.837
Combined
gN kg milk-1
Yards
0.958
Housing
0.571
Storage
0.207
Fields
15.464
Silage
0.525
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