Phosphorus Agreement and Mervit mixes

Together with the rest of the Dutch feed industry, Pre-Mervo is making efforts to reduce the use of phosphorus in livestock feed rations. The use of phosphorus in the renovated Mervit mineral mixes has been reduced where possible. In addition, several new mineral mixes without phosphorus have been introduced, including a mix for heifers. The amount of phosphate produced by animal manure in the Netherlands structurally exceeds the 172 million kg ceiling specified in the derogation agreement between the Netherlands and the EU. The livestock’s total production in 2010 was over 100 million kg of phosphate. One of the key instruments available for reducing phosphate production is a reduction via the feed track. Last July, the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO) (Livestock Farming Sectors), Nevedi and the animal feed companies signed the “Reduction in Phosphate Production via Livestock Feeds Agreement”. In this agreement, the signatories committed to reduce the total P-supply via mixed feeds, single feeds and wet by-products on livestock farms by an average of 10% in comparison to the 2008/2009 reference years. This is to result in a reduction of 5 million kg in 2011, and ultimately 10 million kg on an annual basis. By participating in BEX (Farm-specific Excretion), dairy farms can specifically lower their phosphate supply. The programme makes it possible to control the phosphorus supply and to improve P-utilisation this way. 40% of dairy farms now participates in BEX. The P-test has since been developed to obtain a picture of the P-utilisation of farms that are not participating in BEX. The Phosphorus Agreement is expecting that by no later than 1 January 2013, all livestock farms will be using BEX, or a different method, for calculating the P-balance.

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