Emissions of NH3, N2O and CH4 from milking cows housed in a farmyard manure tying stall (housing, manure storage, manure spreading)

ILUET1 has performed measurements on emissions from milking cows held in a tying stall. All sectors of manure management (housing, storage, spreading) have been investigated in the field. This has enabled calculations of emissions for the whole management system. Emissions from the tying stall were low. Methane emissions from the housing were mainly caused by ruminal fermentation. During storage and after spreading of farmyard manure substantial differences concerning NH3, N2O and CH4 emissions were observed with composted and anaerobically stacked farmyard manure. The compost emitted more NH3. About one third of the NH3 emissions from the anaerobically stacked farmyard manure occurred not during storage but after spreading. It is very important to include the spreading in calculations of the total emissions. Total N losses were at a low level with both storage systems. Greenhouse gas emissions (N2O and CH4) were much higher from the anaerobically stacked farmyard manure. As these are ecologically harmful gases, they have to be considered when judging the form of manure treatment. It is important to take into consideration all sectors of animal husbandry if mitigation options for ecologically harmful gases are to be found. The distribution of the emissions to the emitting sources differs in dependency on the treatment.