Most appropriate measures for reducing ammonia emissions in Latvia’s pig and poultry housing

ArticleNew goals of ammonia emissions reduction for each of EU Member State, including Latvia, were approved by the EU Directive 2016/2284/EU ‘on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants’. Agriculture sector, particularly livestock farming, is the main source of these emissions. Besides, the implementation of modern or intensive animal rearing/breeding technologies causes the increase of emissions in Latvia. Therefore, more effective ammonia abatement measures or techniques should be chosen for implementation in Latvia to reach the objectives. The description and benefits of such measures are provided in the guidelines and recommendations developed and approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Commission. However, all of these recommendations are not applicable in Latvia. Therefore, the aim of research was to find most appropriate ammonia emissions abatement measures for pig and poultry farming in Latvia. The study was focused on the intensive pig and poultry farming, particularly animal housing. Evaluation or assessment of most appropriate ammonia emissions’ reduction measures was conducted using an expert method. The results of the study indicate that it is possible to ensure reduction of ammonia emissions by comparatively simple and less expensive options that could be more or less easy implemented (e.g. ensuring cleanness in the livestock building, periodical removal of manure, covering of poultry litter or solid manure stockpiles with plastic sheeting, etc.). Even more effective reduction of ammonia emissions can be achieved by implementation of measures, which require significant investments, as well as additional operating costs

Rational selection and usage of rotary type milking equipment

The advisable time of operation of the rotary type milking equipment per day depending on the specific exploitation costs has been investigated. It has been stated that these costs can be reduced, if the rotary type milking equipment load is increased. Therefore, it is advisable to organise the work of milkers in two shifts, so that the milking equipment is operated even up to 16 h per day. For this reason the herd of cows should be accordingly large. For instance, milking twice with the equipment with 50 milking places the cow herd can reach having even 2,500 cows, but at milking three times – up to 1,400 cows

Farm manure amount calculation using statistical data in Latvia

ArticleTo calculate ammonia emissions caused by production, storage and application of farm manure, it is necessary to know the amount of farm manure obtained in the country and also the kinds of manure. For this purpose, methodology and computer software are dev eloped to calculate the amount of farm manure based on the data of the Central Statistical Bureau, the technology of farm animal handling in the country and the respective valid normative documents. Upon calculating the amount of farm manure produced in La tvia in 2016, it was stated that approximately a half of the manure is litter manure, one third – liquid manure, and one fifth – manure left in the pastures. The most of manure in Latvia (69% of the total amount) is obtained from milk cows, their calves an d young stock

Effect of slurry lagoon redesign on reduction of ammonia emission during livestock manure storage

ArticleIn accordance with the international and EU aims to reduce emissions of ammonia and other air pollution substances farm manure management, including its storage, especially for the animal breeding sector, is one of the most essential stages. One of the preventing steps is covering of the slurry lagoons. The most effective – hard covering can be provided only after the lagoon is constructed. The aim of the research: to develop methodology for calculations of emission reducing lagoon design volume and surface area. In the result of the theoretical research the possibilities of reducing the reflection surfaces at the same capacity of the lagoon have been discovered, as well as the changes of the reflection surface area, if instead of one lagoon several lagoons with less volume are installed and sequential filling of these lagoons is ensured. The article presents the calculation algorithms obtained during the research and recommendations for construction of low emission lagoons

Model for ammonia emissions’ assessment and comparison of various dairy cattle farming systems and technologies

ArticleA dairy cattle farming is an important source of ammonia emissions, particularly in Latvia. Models using a wide range in level of detail have been developed to represent or predict these emissions. Besides, models are useful for improving the understanding of various farm processes and their interacting effects on ammonia emissions. The model for ammonia emissions’ assessing or representing, predicting and comparing for manure management chain of dairy cattle was created. The model provides a tool for evaluating mitigation and management strategies, abatement measures and techniques to reduce of ammonia emissions and improve the sustainability of dairy production systems both on the dairy farm and at the national level. It could be used as a supplement tool for officials and experts. The model estimates those ammonia abatement measures and techniques that have the highest emission reduction potential and opportunities for implementation on Latvia’s dairy farms. The simulation model assesses the ammonia emissions into each stage of the farming: animal housing, manure management - manure handling and storage, and manure application. An important stage in reducing ammonia emissions is manure storage. It should be noted that the main task of the model was to compare the impact of the ammonia emission reduction options. When entering the number of animals, the average nitrogen quantity per animal, the percentage distribution of manure quantities, the first three levels of the program can be used to estimate the amount of nitrogen to be incorporated into the soil and, as the difference; and the amount of ammonia emissions

Trend of cow herd size in Baltic states

Received: January 29th, 2021 ; Accepted: March 27th, 2021 ; Published: April 5th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] article analyses trend of cow herd size from 2000 to 2019 in four Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. It has been stated that during this period of time the average size of cow herds has increased 3–4 times, except in Estonia, where it has increased 8 times. Nevertheless, the number of cows in the herds is different in individual countries. In the herds with up to 5 cows in Estonia there are about 2% of cows, but in the other Baltic states it is 10–18% of the total number of cows. In turn, in the herds with 50 or more cows, what corresponds to implementation of modern milk production technologies and machinery, in Latvia and Lithuania there are about 50% of cows, in Poland 30%, but in Estonia 90% of the total number of cows in the country. It has influenced the specific labour intensity of the people working in milk production. In Estonia, this indicator in 2019 was about 100 man-h per cow per year, but in the other Baltic states it was 300–350 man-h calculating per cow per year. Still, with robotization and automation of all basic work operations the specific labour intensity in milk production can be decreased to 30–50 man-h calculating per cow per year. Therefore, there are still great development possibilities in all Baltic countries

Assessment of dairy cow herd indices associated with different milking systems

ArticleThe objective of the research was to find whether any differences exist between cattle herds operated by certain milking installations. The cattle herds were studied not only by herd size but also by certain data, like annual milk yield, age and number of lactations. Data collected on dairy farms that operate pipeline milking systems, milking parlours and automatic milking systems were analysed. These farms are situated in three Baltic States. The investigated Estonian dairy farms indicated a decreased tendency in the prevalence of disease cases for udder diseases with an increase in cow herd size. An index of cow production potential was proposed to compare different (including number of lactations) group of cows in dairy farms