Climate Care Cattle Farming Systems

Development of climate smart care cattle farming systems reducing GHG and ammonia emissions.

Meeting

Skype meeting 16th June, 2020 .

Skype meeting 16th June, 2020


Program

  1. Opening and announcements
    • – Action points resulting from the Kick-Off meeting
    • – Time scheme of activities WP1
  2. Each partner tells about activities and the situation at their Institute / University /country in context of project. (WLR , JLU, LUHS, SRUC, INRA-PEGASE, INRA -SAS, INRA-UREP, IDELE, NRIAP, UNIFI, LLU)
  3. Selection of pilot farms
  4. Measuring of emissions
  5. Preparation of data overview to be collected on pilot farms
  6. Questions?
  7. Proposed 2nd CCCfarming team meeting in France (Rennes) in October 2020
  8. Closing.

Minutes of skype meeting on the 16th of June


Present: Diana Ruska, Violeta Juskiene, Bob Rees, Nadege Edouard, Christophe Flechard, Paul Galama, Elise Lorinquer, Matteo Barbari, Lorenzo Leso, Sven Koenig (poor connection, then by mail), Abele Kuipers; not participating without notice Jacek Walczak, Krzysztof Paleczny (NRIAP)

  1. Opening and announcements
    Action points resulting from the Kick-Off meeting:
    • Consortium agreement: Not yet signature received from Poland, Germany, Italy and Scotland. The French partner asked for the possibility to make some adjustments.
      • – Extension of time period project; a request for an extension of 6 months was send to the Joint Call secretariat (in the meantime Nadege Eduard informed us that the French authorities found out that a 6 mo extension was granted for all projects in this category).
      • – The updated time scheme of activities of WP1 was shown (see Annex; it was already send in an earlier stage to the project partners)
      • – Violeta Juskiene explains about logo and website. She tells that each partner received an individual code for entering the project internal website.
  2. Each partner told about the situation at their Institute / University /country in these days:
    • – The situation in the various countries is very diverse. In Germany and the Netherlands there are ongoing activities. In Italy and France the situation is opening up after a strict lock down. In Scotland people are not allowed to travel to EU countries because of serious circumstances with Corona. SRUC hopes to start field experiments this fall. Wageningen is presently in the process of building 4 barn units at Dairy Campus: a rubber floor, an artificial floor and a tiled floor (with holes) will be compared with a cubicle barn with slatted floor as reference. The precise emission measurements in the small barn units will be compared to the simplified measurements which will be done at the field study farms.
    • – The opening of a new experimental farm at INRA is planned in 2nd part of next year. This facility has the possibility to do research on innovative emission practices and techniques.
    • – UNIFI has not yet received funds from the Ministry. Professor Barbari explains that one additional researcher is hired to work on this project being Valentina Becciolini. UNIFI has responsibilities in WP1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Lorenzo Leso is prepared to play a role in visiting (part of) the field study farms in the partner countries to unify the data collection.
    • – UNIFI was asked about the plans with the Drone. This topic draws interest from several partners.
  3. The progress with the selection of the field study farms was discussed:
    • – Wageningen selects two bedded-pack barns, one artificial floor system and 5 cubicle farms. The farm with artificial floor is an organic farm.
    • – Germany has also 2 bedded-pack barns included and 4 organic and 4 conventional farms. There are two big farms with more than 500 cows. On these farms the groups of cows on different beddings are housed in different buildings. Lithuania has 1 tie stall and 3 cubicle barns. Mechanical separation of faeces and urine is part of it. Latvia has 4 tie stall barns with relatively big herds and 4 cubicle barns. Italy has the farms centered in Lombardi, the region to which Florence belongs. It are 2 bedded pack barns and 6 cubicle barns. Scotland will include the SRUC experimental farm. There are different genetic groups of cows. The question is asked if these groups are housed separately. SRUC is advised to include at least 1 deep straw system and 1 bedded-pack barn with composting material. The French partner includes the experimental farm from IDELE. Inclusion of a deep straw system and a bedded-pack barn is expected to be part of the French group of farms.
    • – An Excel sheet is available to enter the field study farm data. Only a limited number of characteristics are listed to start with. UNIFI will fulfill a role in this Task WP1.1.
  4. Measuring of emissions
    • – INRA prepared a concept list of needed equipment for emission measurements (see Annex). Still some questions about the list are waiting to be answered by IDELE and INRA.
    • Nadege proposes that an Excel overview will be prepared by IDELE/INRA also including a cost estimate of the various pieces of equipment. The buying of equipment can (also) take place at local dealers as long as the proper piece of equipment is ordered.
  5. Preparation of data overview to be collected on field study farms
    • – The NPC data input for the 3 tools is in preparation by Wageningen. Elise is asked to provide as soon as possible the input for the IDELE NPC tool (in the meantime this file is received by Marion de Vries, Wageningen).
    • – General farm data will be linked to the overview of the field farms (point 3).
    • – Socio-economic data will be gathered during the kitchen table interview organized by WP1.6. Bob Rees is asked to request Vera Eory, SRUC, to provide the first outline for such an interview (by a questionnaire). (in the meantime a note with the approach towards such a kitchen table interview was received from Vera Eory).
    • – Technical herd data – still to be decided upon.
    • – All data nominated to be collected will be checked for overlap to be efficient when visiting the farms.
  6. The 2nd CCCfarming team meeting will be in France (Rennes) on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October 2020. All partners promised to be present. Only NRIAP has not reacted to the DOODLE POLL or mail requests. Field study farm visits can start immediately after this meeting.
  7. Closing