Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CowficieNcy (Upgrading and implementing mathematical models to increase nitrogen use efficiency of lactating dairy cows.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-01-01 bis 2023-06-30
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.
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.
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. Furthermore, the need to train participants, other professionals and students on CNCPS diet formulation led to the development of a specialized long-term web-based seminar at the University of Thessaly in Greece. The seminar run for three years involving twenty-eight professionals and students from Greece, Cyprus, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Field work was an important element of the CowficieNcy project allowing us to develop links with the dairy industries of Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. A detailed on-farm sampling and data collection protocol allowed us to define nitrogen use efficiency through diet evaluation and whole-herd nitrogen balances. A total of 64 dairy farms across countries involved in the CowficieNcy project. Specifically: (1) 20 in Greece, (2) 20 in Italy, (3) 14 in the United Kingdom, and (4) 10 in Spain. Following the assessment of the current N status, all involved farms received a written report describing their nitrogen status and suggesting ways of improvement. As expected, only portion of these were willing to implement suggested changes, reaching an overall acceptability of 12.5 %. In these farms the holistic nutritional management scheme was implementing increasing milk nitrogen use efficiency for 5 units (from 29 to 34 %).
Furthermore, a significant part of our on-farm work is dedicated to heifer growth. Even though the on-farm data development for this part of the project was more difficult than that for lactating cows, a set of farms from Italy and Greece were recruited to the study. Analysis with both the CNE and CNCPS models revealed that growing animals contribute significantly to overall nitrogen use efficiency of dairy farming and that 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.
Besides the scientific part of the CowficieNcy project significant efforts were directed to dissemination activities. The main target groups (scientists, professionals, dairy and feed industries) were reached through a series of conference participation and targeted workshops. Members of the consortium participated in the annual EAAP international meeting, where a major part of CowficieNcy outcomes was presented. In addition, with the objective to reach dairy farmers we realized that is more efficient to develop local workshops rather than target more international ones. Such workshops were organized by the University of Thessaly in Greece, where it received permanent characteristics since it took place the last four years, even during the Pandemic, where a virtual meeting took place. Furthermore, the scientific community was also reached by peer-reviewed publications. Even though this stage needs more time to be concluded since several articles are under review or need more work to be finalized, four peer-reviewed research articles are already published.
Field work was an important element of the CowficieNcy project allowing us to develop links with the dairy industries of Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. A detailed on-farm sampling and data collection protocol allowed us to define nitrogen use efficiency through diet evaluation and whole-herd nitrogen balances. A total of 64 dairy farms across countries involved in the CowficieNcy project. Specifically: (1) 20 in Greece, (2) 20 in Italy, (3) 14 in the United Kingdom, and (4) 10 in Spain. Following the assessment of the current N status, all involved farms received a written report describing their nitrogen status and suggesting ways of improvement. As expected, only portion of these were willing to implement suggested changes, reaching an overall acceptability of 12.5 %. In these farms the holistic nutritional management scheme was implementing increasing milk nitrogen use efficiency for 5 units (from 29 to 34 %).
Furthermore, a significant part of our on-farm work is dedicated to heifer growth. Even though the on-farm data development for this part of the project was more difficult than that for lactating cows, a set of farms from Italy and Greece were recruited to the study. Analysis with both the CNE and CNCPS models revealed that growing animals contribute significantly to overall nitrogen use efficiency of dairy farming and that 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.
Besides the scientific part of the CowficieNcy project significant efforts were directed to dissemination activities. The main target groups (scientists, professionals, dairy and feed industries) were reached through a series of conference participation and targeted workshops. Members of the consortium participated in the annual EAAP international meeting, where a major part of CowficieNcy outcomes was presented. In addition, with the objective to reach dairy farmers we realized that is more efficient to develop local workshops rather than target more international ones. Such workshops were organized by the University of Thessaly in Greece, where it received permanent characteristics since it took place the last four years, even during the Pandemic, where a virtual meeting took place. Furthermore, the scientific community was also reached by peer-reviewed publications. Even though this stage needs more time to be concluded since several articles are under review or need more work to be finalized, four peer-reviewed research articles are already published.
The CowficieNcy project was built on two basic research/innovation areas: (i) modelling nitrogen balance at a cow, farm and system level and (ii) applying these models to reduce nitrogen impact from dairy production. It is well documented that dairy cattle framing is an important contributor to the nitrogen cascade and that improved nitrogen use efficiency in plants and animals is the best way to reduce this contribution. In this direction, the outcome of the project supported in many aspects this strategy. Firstly, it actually improved milk nitrogen use efficiency in a set of pilot dairy farms with holistic nutritional management. Furthermore, it developed a network of farmers, professionals, academics and professionals committed to further reduce nitrogen pollution. The implementation of the action was successful in both areas leading to increased innovation potential of the models and the companies that commercialized the CNCPS model in Europe.