TYPE: Emissions avoidance methodology
 

Summary

This methodology applies to projects that reduce emissions from dairy cows by supplementing pasture feed with fats or oils for at least nine months a year.

Emission levels are calculated using the Dietary Fats Calculator22 available from the website of the Federal Department of Environment. Improving feed quality for milking cows by incorporating feed additives that are high in fat can enhance feed conversion efficiency and cause faster feed passage through the rumen.

This reduces the amount of enteric methane released and therefore avoids methane emissions into the atmosphere. Defining the baseline, using the activities undertaken in the previous three years, ensures that the activities undertaken under the project are additional.

Methodology details

Scope of the project

Dairy farms that are eligible under this methodology must have their milking cows pasture grazed for at least nine months each year. The concentration of fat in the diet of the milking herd must not exceed 70 grams of fat per kilogram of dry matter intake in any season (if this limit is exceeded then the net abatement for the project year is zero).

Eligible feed additives are:

• canola meal;

• cold-pressed canola meal;

• brewers grain;

• hominy meal; and

• dried distillers grain.

Timing and location

For a project to be eligible, it must be located in Australia (excluding external territories). The first project year commences on the first day of a season after that date the project is declared an eligible offsets project. Each subsequent project year starts on the first day of a season beginning after the last day of the preceding project year.

Emission sources

The methodology covers methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Determining the baseline The baseline defines the level of emissions that would occur in the absence of the project. For this methodology, the baseline is determined based on data on three consecutive years. These years start on the first day of a season, end before the start of the first project year and do not start earlier than seven years before the start of the first project year.

Net abatement

Net abatement as a result of the project is determined as the difference between emissions under the baseline and emissions under the project. Emission levels are calculated using the Dietary Fats Calculator available from the website of the Federal Department of Environment.

Calculating emission volumes

Both the baseline emission levels and the net abatement amounts are calculated using the Dietary Fats Calculator. The minimum data required for each season to determine the baseline includes:

• average number of milking cows in the milking herd;

• average milk production;

• intake of feed type other than pasture (including dry matter digestibility, crude protein and fat for each feed type, obtainable either from the manufacturer, from analysis of bulk feed samples or from feed quality data tables); and

• average milking cow live weight (if not available for all seasons, this is determined using the standard reference live weight specified in the National Inventory Report).

In addition to the data required for the baseline calculations, the following information is required for calculation of the abatement amount:

• mass of eligible additives;

• fat metabolisable energy and crude protein of eligible additives (obtainable either from the manufacturer, from analysis of bulk feed samples or from feed quality data tables); and

• average daily dry matter intake of pasture by a milking cow for each season (calculated based on output of the Dietary Fats Calculator and intake of non-pasture dry matter).

Monitoring, measuring, record-keeping and reporting

Records must be kept of all the inputs measured and entered into the Dietary Fat Calculator—including details on feeds. And the number of milking cows must be counted at least once a month in each year of the baseline and each project year. Measuring and monitoring equipment must be inspected, maintained and calibrated. The offsets report must include:

• the start and end date of each baseline year and each project year;

• the inputs and outputs from the Dietary Fats Calculator for each of the baseline years and project years; and

• the net abatement amount calculated using the Dietary Fats Calculator.

(See also)