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12 Steps for Dairy farmers to Reduce Gaseous Emissions

12 Steps for Dairy farmers to Reduce Gaseous Emissions

The Signpost Programme led by Teagasc, is a multi-annual campaign to lead climate action by all Irish farmers. The latest output from this programme is a guide outlining 12 Steps for Dairy farmers to take to reduce Gaseous Emissions on their farms.

Download as a PDF here: 12 steps to reduce gaseous emissions on dairy farms (PDF)

Use protected urea

Apply protected urea instead of CAN/straight urea

Apply lime

Identify felds low in pH using soil analysis

Build or maintain soil fertility

Continue to use P & K fertilisers such as 18:6:12

Use 100% LESS

Apply slurry in spring / early summer using Low Emission Slurry Spreading Technology (LESS)

Reduce chemical N by 10kg/ha

Apply lime, incorporate clover and make best use of slurry / FYM

Better grassland management

Weekly farm walk, measure grass and extend grazing season

Improve animal health

Create a herd health plan

Improve dairy herd quality

Use high EBI bulls and increase herd EBI by >€10/year. Use sexed semen to accelerate genetic gain

Increase milk solids/cow

Milk record, cull poor cows and aim for 305 day lactation

Reduce age at first calving

Calf heifers at 22 to 26 months and aim for 20% replacement rate

Finish cattle earlier

Use Dairy Beef Index (DBI) to produce earlier fnishing cattle

Incorporate clover

Incorporating 5 kg/ha (2 kg/ac) will replace up to 100 kg/ha (80 units/ac) of chemical N/year


View the 12 Steps for Beef farmers to Reduce Gaseous Emissions or find out more about the Signpost Programme

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blue    The Teagasc Signpost Programme e-Newsletter will issue monthly and you can read it here each month on on Teagasc Daily.

Signpost Programme Partners

The Signpost Programme is a collaborative partnership of farmers, industry and State Agencies, working together for climate action.