Phosphate and nitrogen emitted in livestock manure is above new limits

© ANP / ANP
The total amount of nitrogen excreted in animal manure in 2024 was 449 million kilograms, 3 percent less than in 2023. That quantity was below the nitrogen emissions limit for 2024 The amount of phosphate excreted was 147 million kilograms, which was similar to the previous year and also below the phosphate emissions limit. However, the volumes of both nitrogen and phosphates produced were higher than the new emissions ceilings that will take effect in 2025. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of newly released definitive figures.

In 2024, the quantity of nitrogen compounds excreted in manure by cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock was 8 percent below the relevant nitrogen emissions ceiling of 489.4 million kilograms. The nitrogen emissions limit will be lowered to 440 million kilograms in 2025.

Less nitrogen excreted by dairy cattle

Nitrogen excreted by cattle was down by 3 percent to 298 million kilograms in 2024. Dairy cattle (including young stock) excreted 265 million kilograms of nitrogen in 2023, which was 3 percent less than in 2023.

After the milk quota was abolished in 2015, the Netherlands’ population of dairy cattle grew, with higher manure production as a result. Measures to reduce the population of dairy cows subsequently led to a reduction in manure production from 2017 onwards. As a result, and due to the lower nitrogen content of cattle feed, the quantity of nitrogen excreted by livestock has been reduced by 63 million kilograms since then, while phosphate emissions have been reduced by 22 million kilograms.

Excretion of phosphate by dairy cattle up slightly

The excretion of phosphate in livestock manure was almost the same as in 2023, and at 147 million kilograms it was 3 percent below the phosphate emissions ceiling for 2024 (150.7 million kilograms). The dairy sector was responsible for 77 million kilograms of phosphate emissions, 1 percent more than in the previous year. Dairy farms used feed concentrates with a lower phosphorus content, but the phosphorus content of roughage such as silage and fodder maize was higher in 2024 than it had been the previous year. The nitrogen content of both concentrate and roughage was down in 2024.

Phosphate emissions ceiling for 2025

In 2025, the phosphate emissions ceiling will be lowered to 135 million kilograms. Phosphate emissions will need to be cut by 8 percent from 2024 levels in order to remain below the new limit. The level of the new limit was based on a 10 percent reduction from the amount of phosphates emitted in 2020. Phosphate excretion by cattle, sheep and goats was low in 2020 due to low levels of phosphorus in roughage.

Lower nitrogen and phosphate emissions from pig and poultry manure

The amount of nitrogen and phosphate compounds emitted in manure from pigs and poultry has fallen since 2015, due to both smaller populations of these animals and lower nitrogen and phosphorus levels in animal feed. In 2024, nitrogen emissions from pig farming fell by 2 percent compared with the previous year, and phosphate emissions fell by 1 percent. Emissions from the poultry sector decreased sharply: by 7 percent for nitrogen compounds and 9 percent for phosphates. Together, pigs and poultry produced a combined total of 129 million kilograms of nitrogen and 53 million kilograms of phosphate.

Nitrogen emissions from other livestock (including horses, ponies, sheep and goats) were at a similar level in 2024 to 2023, at 55 million kilograms. Phosphate emissions from other livestock rose by 1 million kilograms to 17 million kilograms.

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