Upgrading and implementing mathematical models to increase nitrogen use efficiency of lactating dairy cows.

Project Information

CowficieNcy

Grant agreement ID: 777974

DOI 10.3030/777974

Project closed

EC signature date 25 October 2017

Start date 1 January 2018

End date 30 June 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost € 1 102 500,00

EU contribution € 994 500,00

Coordinated by

PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CowficieNcy (Upgrading and implementing mathematical models to increase nitrogen use efficiency of lactating dairy cows.)

Reporting period: 2018-01-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

CowficieNcy is an applied research project that aims to increase nitrogen use efficiency of dairy cattle, because this is the best strategy to reduce nitrogen pollution from dairy farms. Nitrogen emissions from cows contribute to the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and to ammonia, and reducing the emissions of both of these pollutants is a overall policy objective of European countries.

The overall aim of our project is to use modern and sophisticated modelling tools to accelerate the nutrition management of the dairy herd leading to improved farmer profitability and nitrogen use efficiency. We focus on both replacement heifers, which represent a significant portion of nitrogen pollution at the farm level, and lactating cows, which are the principal unit of nitrogen pollution.

Research Plan
Our main overall objectives are to upgrade nutrition tools that will lead to increased nitrogen use efficiency of dairy farming, and to help dairy practitioners to implement them. We have selected two basic models to work with: (i) the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), and the Cattle Nitrogen use Efficiency model (CNE). We have dedicated a project work package (WP) to train participants on current model use (WP2: Training). The main focus of our work is to apply these models at a farm base. This is planned within WP3 (Field Research), which will transfer knowledge to several farms and feed-consulting companies across participating countries. At the same time, academic and non-academic partners will collaborate to further improve these models in WP4 (Model Research). Once the upgraded models are developed, the final implementation will take place on selected dairy farms.

Dissemination Plan
Dissemination and communication of our research findings to the public is an integral part of CowficieNcy, and a specific work package is dedicated to it. A number of traditional and non-traditional tools are used to approach not only the scientific community but also any citizen concerned with environmental issues related to dairy farming.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The first two years of the CowficieNcy project were dedicated to training participants in model use and the development of laboratory protocols to provide feed analyses with low variability between laboratories. Some project participants were trained during secondments in feed analysis and model use, while others were involved in comparing current laboratory protocols and the harmonisation of techniques for future use. In the first part, most partners participated in knowledge transfer on model use (especially that of CNCPS) and a dedicated workshop took place in Barcelona (Spain) organized by the project partner Autonomous University of Barcelona. The workshop was held on four different dates and trained sixteen participants, comprising students, researchers and other academic staff.

During the first two project years we have developed links with the dairy industries of Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK by implementing a detailed on-farm sampling and data collection protocol that allows us to define nitrogen use efficiency through diet evaluation and whole-herd nitrogen balances. This on-going step resulted in working with more than 60 farms in the countries of interest, promoting holistic nutritional management. The first results of on-farm nutrition evaluation have suggested that there is good potential to improve whole-herd nitrogen use efficiency, and thus, reduce nitrogen pollution from dairy farming. Future steps of the project will include dietary improvement and implementation plans with the objectives to reduce nitrogen pollution in real farming situations.

Finally, part of our on-farm work is dedicated to heifer growth. Even though the on-farm data development for this part of the project is more difficult than that for lactating cows, a first set of farms from Italy and Greece have been recruited to the study. Analysis with both the CNE and CNCPS models has revealed that this stage of the dairy animals life also holds potential for improvement. This can be achieved through accurate feeding that will adjust offered diets to actual needs of different growth rates and growth stages. Forthcoming research will require development of protocols to overcome issues related to the capacity of participating farms to implement potential improvements in nutritional management.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The CNCPS dairy cow ration formulation models are based on feeding North American cows, which are typically housed or kept on feed lots. This is different to the grass- and grazing-based systems used in many European countries, and therefore the CNCPS model will be refined for use with typical European dairy cows diets. At the same time, improved diet formulation will enable farmers to reduce feed nitrogen inputs while maintaining productive outputs of their animals (growth and milk production), which will lead to an overall improvement in whole-farm nitrogen use efficiency and reduce emission intensities of milk production. Improving the nutritional models to incorporate amino acids recommendations for lactating cattle should lead to further improvements beyond those possible with simpler definitions of dietary protein. A key issue that the project faces is the acceptability of farmers to innovation. So far, we have received positive feedback from dairy farmers that are very interested in the project’s objectives. We plan to implement a holistic nutritional management that will improve milk nitrogen use efficiency in most farms. Those farms that implement suggested changes and achieve this improved milk nitrogen use efficiency will form a group of pilot farms. In these farms, a second step of improvement will take place taking into consideration our upgraded models. We expect to achieve our goal in forming this group of farms in Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. With our concept proven, we may further extend the approach to other farms and develop a new way of nutritional management of dairy cattle. This will benefit the environment by reducing significantly nitrogen pollutant outputs. Moreover, it will benefit farm profitability because in many cases the improvement of milk nitrogen use efficiency is linked with reduced costs of feeding protein and increased energy density of the diet; these two factors may lead to increased milk production depending on the case.

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Dissemination and communication strategy

Work Packages