Dairy farms often produce a significant amount of protein on-site, but a substantial portion of it isn’t fully utilised by the animals. Instead, it is excreted as nitrogen compounds – posing both economic losses for farmers and environmental risks, particularly through ammonia emissions.

Insights from the Interreg project ‘Autoprot‘, led by CONVIS, have shown that better use of farm-grown protein is not only possible but necessary. The EU NEC Directive calls for a 22% reduction in agricultural ammonia emissions by 2030. This project addresses the urgent need for practical solutions by focusing on feed efficiency.

By conducting targeted feed analyses and optimising rations, the project helps farmers fine-tune the nutrient balance in dairy cow diets. This improves rumen function, allowing cows to convert protein more effectively and reducing nitrogen waste. In turn, this reduces the farm's ammonia-emission potential while better utilising homegrown feed.

The approach strengthens both environmental performance and farm economics, offering a concrete path forward for more sustainable milk production.