Optimisation of Crude Protein Intake in Sheep – a measure ensuring both increased efficiency as well as the reduction of the GHG emission of the milk production
The objective of implementing this measure was, among other things, to demonstrate that reducing the carbon footprint of milk production can also be achieved without affecting the profitability of sheep farms, especially within less intensive sheep milk production systems. Within these systems, particularly where the livestock load per hectare is low, farmers often do not focus on ration optimization, especially in ensuring the dietary protein supply needed to support high milk yields or to reach the potential milk production of the animals.
Frequently, in such systems, milk production is less than 100 kg/head/lactation, although the genetic potential of sheep may exceed 120 kg (while the animals are still undergoing genetic improvement).
In this context, one of the implemented measures consists of aligning the protein intake of consumed diets with the nutritional requirements of the animals throughout the year, by providing complementary concentrated feeds. There are several such periods when the nutritional value of pastures is dramatically reduced or when sheep require higher nutritional intake (e.g., peak lactation or preparation for mating).
This measure can be implemented at several levels — from simply following basic nutritional recommendations (e.g., feeding a one-size-fits-all compound feed specific to sheep at certain times of the year), to checking the diets using ruminant feeding tables, and even up to applying precision feeding.
The advantage of the method lies in the fact that, for lactating animals, the effects are quickly noticeable, typically through increased daily milk production. On the other hand, the additional costs related to complementary feeding are offset by the increased income from the higher milk yields.
The main beneficiaries are farmers, but also nutrition consultants, feed producers, and others involved in livestock nutrition and management.
Climate Farm Demo
Ongoing | 2022-2029
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Serbia