Toward Specialized or Integrated Systems in Northwest Europe: On-Farm Eco-Efficiency of Dairy Farming in Germany

Abstract

Intensive confinement (IC) systems for dairying have become widespread during the last decades. However, potential advantages of alternative systems such as full-grazing (FG) or integrated dairy/cash-crop (IFG) systems with regards to better provision of ecosystem services are widely discussed. To investigate performance and environmental impacts, we compared four prevailing dairy systems using an on-farm research study. The farm types differed in their share of pasture access and quantity of resource inputs: (i) an IC with a high import of supplements and mineral fertilizers; (ii) a semi-confinement (SC) with daytime pasture access during summer and moderate import of supplementary feeds representing the base-line scenario; (iii) a FG based on grazed seeded grass-clover swards with no purchased N-fertilizers and low quantities of supplementary feeds; and (iv) an IFG comparable to FG but based on grass-clover leys integrated in a cash-crop rotation. Results revealed highest milk productivity (16 t energy-corrected-milk (ECM) ha−1) and farm-N-balance (230 kg N ha−1) in IC; however, the highest product carbon footprint (PCF; 1.2 CO2eq kg ECM−1) and highest N-footprint (13 g N kg ECM−1) were found in the baseline system SC. The FG and IFG revealed on average similar forage dry matter yields (10 – 11 t DM ha−1) at similar crude protein and net-energy-lactation ratios per kg DM-intake compared to the IC and SC. The PCF in FG were comparable to IC (0.9 vs. 1.1 kg CO2eq kg ECM−1) but at a lower N-footprint (9 vs. 12 g N kg ECM−1). However, despite low measured N-losses in the FG system, the farm-N-surplus was exceeded by 90 kg N ha−1. A further reduction was only possible in the IFG (50 kg N ha−1) by accounting for a potential N-carry-over from N-rich plant residues to the cash-crop unit, leading to the lowest PCF (0.6 kg CO2eq kg ECM−1) for the IFG, with still moderate milk yield levels (~10,500 kg ECM ha−1). According to this bottom-up approach based on field data, improved integrated grazing systems could provide an important opportunity to increase the ecosystem services from dairy farming, operating with land use efficiencies similar to IC.

Unpacking Total Factor Productivity on Dairy Farms Using Empirical Evidence

“…The results also show that milk yield is positive and statistically significant, supporting the finding of Ali, et al [45] that dairy farms adopting improved genetic materials attain higher productivity. Our analysis also shows stocking density as positive and significant, consistent with Reinsch, Loza, Malisch, Vogeler, Kluß, Loges and Taube [22] and Kimura and Sauer [1], finding that dairy farms operating intensive systems tend to be relatively more productive. The intensity of the purchased feed input variable is negative and significant after controlling for other factors (note that, contrary to the results of the econometric analysis, the productivity class analysis based on mean comparison shows that high-productivity farms use more purchased feeds.…”

“…Intensity of the production system exhibits a more complex relationship. While intensity (stocking density) is related to relatively higher productivity [1,19,21,22], the intensity of purchased feed and labour input use is negative [1,23], indicating that efficiency is still a key driver, regardless of structural advantages.…”

How Does Nitrogen Application Rate Affect Plant Functional Traits and Crop Growth Rate of Perennial Ryegrass-Dominated Permanent Pastures?

“…This is often realised by high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertiliser. Nonetheless, nitrogen use efficiency in dairy production systems is low [4][5][6] and high N inputs are a key factor for N surpluses and N leaching losses under permanent pastures [3,7]. Grass swards with higher plant N uptake showed significantly lower N leaching losses [7].…”

Very Low Nitrogen Leaching in Grazed Ley-Arable-Systems in Northwest Europe

“…A study conducted by Nyameasem et al [34], on the same experimental site, reported low levels of N 2 O emissions which further indicates the effective use of N in the low-input system [20]. With regard to the N on a farm-level, a low-input ley-systems based on grazing allows for high productivity in combination with high biodiversity effects [68], low GHG emissions [16,34] and milk production with a low carbon footprint, thereby resulting in eco-efficient dairy systems [69]. These low-input systems could therefore serve as a platform in order to reduce the negative environmental effects associated with dairy farming in northern Germany which will adhere to the European Union Nitrate Directive [8], the Water Framework Directive [9] and the Groundwater Directive [10], organizations that aim to protect both surface and groundwater from agricultural use.…”