GHG mitigation efforts on dairy farms in
the Netherlands (NL)
From objectives to best practices and implementation
Jelle Zijlstra and Theun Vellinga
Project Kick off meeting, Beijing, September 28th, 2020

Content
1. Introduction Dutch dairy sector
2. GHG reduction objectives: government and dairy sector
3. CO2-eq per kg FPCM: present situation
4. Mitigation options
5. First experiences with implementation
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EU dairy belt: favourite climatic conditions
for dairy
3
NL

China and the Netherlands compared
4
China The Netherlands
Population 1,386 biljn. 17 mill.
Surface country 9,597,000 km2 42,000 km2
Milk cows 5.0 mill. 1.7 mill.
Milk production (mill.t.) 33,000 14,500
Self sufficiency 80% 160%
% milk processed 90% 99%
Processing companies ?? 25
Processsing factories ?? 53
Dairy farms 1,300,000 17,500
Milk cows per farm 3.8 100
Kg milk per farm 20,000? 800,000
Milk per cow per year 6,400 8,700
Source: many sources

Threats & opportunities NL dairy
Threats
▪ Legislation on reduction
emissions: N, P, NH3, CO2
and CH4
▪ High costs to dispose
manure
▪ Sustainability
requirements: animal
welfare, grazing, emissions,
biodiversity
▪ High land prizes
Opportunities
▪ Entrepreneurial spirit of
dairy farmers
▪ Sustainable milk as unique
selling point
▪ Strong processors and high
quality export
▪ Continuous improvement
technical and economic
efficiency
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Goals Sustainable Dutch Dairy Chain 2030
Climate and energy
▪ Monitor carbon footprint
▪ Energy neutral production
▪ Reduction in CH4 and N2O
Animal health and welfare:
▪ Monitoring animal health with tools
▪ Increase longevity
Grazing
▪ 80% of farms practice grazing
Biodiversity
▪ Implement biodiversity monitoring
▪ 65% home grown protein
▪ 100% use of certified soy (No deforestation)
▪ 100% farms monitor nutrient cycle and emissions
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GHG mitigation objectives dairy sector NL
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Reduction* of: Reduction
goal 2030**
In % of
present
emissions***
Methane (enteric and manure
storage)
0.8 Mton 8%
Nitrous oxide (manure storage and
soil)
0.2 Mton 3%
Fossil energy 0.6 Mton 40%
CO2-eq per kg FPCM (LCA approach) Targets not yet set
* Reference year: 2017
** Objectives of Sustainable Dairy Chain aligned with NL Government policy
*** Estimate based on emission level 2017 (Vellinga et. al., 2018)

GHG emissions average NL dairy farm
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Source: Doornewaard et al., 2019
On farm: 766 Total: 1.195Off farm: 429
LCA approach
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
CO2-eqingperkgFPCM
Emission source

Distribution of Dutch dairy farms over
CO2-eq-groups
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g CO2-eq per kg FPCM
%ofdairyfarmsNL
100% clay 100% peat 100% sand
Source: Zijlstra et al., 2019

Main categories mitigation options
▪ Feeding
▪ Feed and fodder production on farm
▪ Herd: health, welfare and young stock care
▪ Manure management: storage and application
▪ Fossil energy saving / renewable energy production
▪ Breeding
▪ Carbon sequestration in soil
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Mitigation options and estimated impact
(NL conditions, and only options + or 0 on profit)
13Source: Zijlstra et al., 2018
Expert assessment results
Best practice / mitigation option
Impact
op GHG
Impact
on profit
Less young stock per 10 cows *** ++
Higher milk production per cow *** +
Increased feed efficiency (less losses, more frequent feeding) *** +
Decrease artificial N-fertilizer *** 0
Increase of legumes in sword *** 0
Renewable energy production (solar, biogas, wind) *** +/-
Increase maize share in ration ** +/-
Decrease concentrates share in ration ** +
Grow own concentrates/fodder crops ** +/-
Use of renewable energy ** 0
Reduce ensilaging losses ** +
Reduce renewal rate of grassland * +/-
Energy saving technologies * +
More grazing and grass intake * +
Higher crop production per ha * +

Most popular GHG mitigation options
chosen by pilot group of 12 dairy farmers
14
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Numberoffarmers
Mitigation option
Source: Unpublished results of a group
of 12 Dutch farmers piloting the
application of mitigation options

Experiences on implementation on farm
level
▪ Pilot groups are exploring: not yet large scale results of
experiences
▪ Focus on cost effective mitigation options
▪ Large dairy processor initiates certification system to reward
farmers low in GHG
▪ Next to GHG, farmers face challenges of other sustainability
issues: ammonia emissions, biodiversity and animal welfare
▪ Big future impact expected from GHG-reducing feed additives
▪ The profitability of bio-digester strongly depends on subsidy
level. Not attractive in NL.
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Thank you for your
attention
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