Nitrogen and phosphate production from manure below ceiling

In 2022, nitrogen excretion in manure from cows, pigs, poultry and other livestock remained below the ceiling for nitrogen excretion of 489.4 million kg by 22 million kg. In 2025, the production ceiling was reduced to 440 million kg nitrogen.

Nitrogen excretion from livestock has decreased by 45 million kg since 2017 while phosphorus excretion has been reduced by 19 million kg. The largest contributor to this reduction (26 million kg) was the dairy sector, mainly due to reductions in cow and young stock herds.

Nitrogen excretion by dairy cattle below ceiling

Last year, dairy cattle (including young stock) still excreted 269 million kg of nitrogen, i.e. 1.4 percent less than in the previous year. Until 2015, the size of the dairy herd was limited with the help of a milk quota. Herd growth after abolition of the milk quota was halted by means of a new so-called phosphate rights trading system. Nitrogen excretion by the dairy sector has declined since 2018.

No decrease in livestock phosphate excretion

In 2022, phosphorus excretion increased relative to the previous year, but still remained below the new output ceiling of 150.7 million kg. In 2025, the production ceiling was reduced to 135 million kg phosphorus. Phosphorus output by the dairy sector was 77 million kg last year, up from 74 million kg in 2021.

Dairy cattle excretion depends on composition of roughage

The fact that the dairy sector produces less nitrogen but more phosphorous is partly due to the composition of roughage (grass and silage maize). The grass silage content in this feed last year mainly consisted of grass harvested in 2021, and to some extent of grass harvested in 2022. The part harvested in those years had a relatively low nitrogen content, resulting in a lower average nitrogen content.

On the other hand, the grass harvested in 2021 had a higher phosphorus content and a large portion was used in 2022. Concentrates also contained more phosphorus than in 2021.

Less nitrogen and phosphate from pig and poultry manure due to smaller herds

In the pig farming sector, nitrogen and phosphorus excretion fell by 0.3 percent in 2022. In the poultry farming sector, nitrogen excretion dropped by 0.8 percent, phosphate excretion by 2.8 percent.

Reductions in nitrogen and phosphate excretion by pigs and poultry are mainly related to the reduced herd size. The herd reductions over the past seven years have led to a continuous decline in excretion levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in pig and poultry manure.

In 2022, manure levels of other livestock, such as horses, ponies, sheep and goats, remained virtually unchanged with 22 million kg nitrogen and 7 million kg phosphorous.