Emissions and circular feed highlighted at All About Feed Forum

All About Feed spoke to 2 of the speakers at the upcoming All About Feed Forum on the 7th & 8th June, to find out more about them and their presentation.

Emissions Dairy Farming – Sanne van Gastelen PhD

Sanne van Gastelen is a senior researcher in dairy cattle nutrition at Wageningen Livestock Research, department Animal Nutrition. Wageningen Livestock Research is part of Wageningen University & Research, where we perform fundamental, innovative, and application-oriented research and search for solutions for sustainable and profitable livestock farming. We offer industry, sector and governments development opportunities for applied innovations for all livestock farming sectors, and within our department we focus specifically on animal nutrition.

Tell us about your experience in the dairy cattle nutrition sector?
I am active in dairy cattle nutrition research for the last 11 year. My research focuses mainly on challenges in dairy cattle nutrition aiming for healthy animals producing milk at low environmental costs. I am involved in several experimental research programs, regarding the relationships between diet quality or feed additives and enteric methane emissions of dairy cattle. In the recent years, the focus of the research has shifted partially to the reduction of nitrogen excretion (ammonia in particular) from dairy cattle using different dietary strategies. Additionally, the relationship between rumen microbiota, diet composition, and enteric methane emission in both dairy cattle and youngstock has been my interest, with particular focus on early life interventions and steering the development of the rumen microbiome towards persistent low methane emission.

What is the topic of your presentation?
I will present how we could potentially decrease the emission of methane and the excretion of nitrogen from dairy cattle using different dietary strategies, preferably without negatively impacting the health of the animals and their production characteristics.

Why is this topic important now?
Worldwide we are facing the challenge to reduce methane emission from animal production, while simultaneously increasing the production of animal-sourced food to meet the projected increase in demand. This also applies to the dairy industry. In addition, in the Netherlands specifically, we are facing the challenge to reduce nitrogen excretion to remain below the European nitrogen ceiling. Mitigation of both methane emission and nitrogen excretion can be achieved using dietary strategies.

‘You are what you eat’ also applies to dairy cows. Hence, mitigation of ammonia and methane can be achieved using dietary strategies.

Sanne van Gastelen PhD will speak on day 1 (7 June) 11:05 CEST

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Gert van Duinkerken – Circular feed in a sustainable food system

Gert van Duinkerken is the manager of Wageningen Livestock Research, which is one of the research institutes within Wageningen University & Research. And with 240 colleagues they work on livestock and aquaculture research and innovation.

Tell us about your experience in the livestock and aquaculture research?

After my study at Wageningen University, I worked in the industry for 5 years, and then step into applied research. I work in research for over 25 years now, in different roles.

What is the topic of your presentation? And why is this topic important now?

In my presentation I will talk about the future food system, and the role of animal source food products. These are important questions, if we want to define the future direction and challenges in the area of animal nutrition. I will share my views on how animal nutrition will change, and if circularity will become one of the leading principles. I will also discuss consequences for feed evaluation.