Workshop Manual: The business case for carbon farming: improving your farm’s sustainability (January 2021)

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by feeding dietary additives to milking cows

Appendix A - Summaries of selected emissions avoidance and sequestration methodologies

The business case for carbon farming: improving your farm’s sustainability

Explore the full Workshop Manual: The business case for carbon farming: improving your farm’s sustainability (January 2021)

 
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)
 

 

Explore the full Workshop Manual: The business case for carbon farming: improving your farm’s sustainability (January 2021)

Read the report

RESEARCH REPORTS

1. Introduction: background to the business case

This chapter lays out the basic background and groundwork of the manual

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.1 Overview

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.2 Being clear about the reasons for participating

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.3 Key steps in a decision process

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.4 Working through the business case for carbon farming

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.5 Factors determining project economics

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.6 Elements of the business case

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.7 Building an economic case

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.8 Important features of the business case

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

1.9 The plan of this manual

Introduction: background to the business case

RESEARCH REPORTS

2. How carbon is farmed under the ERF

This chapter considers in detail the activities that constitute carbon farming

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.1 The scope of carbon farming under the ERF

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.2 Emissions avoidance activities

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.3 Sequestration activities

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.4 The negative list

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.5 Carbon farming under the Emissions Reduction Fund

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

2.6 Who's who in the CFI and the ERF

How carbon is farmed under the ERF

RESEARCH REPORTS

3. The policy context and the price of ACCUs

This chapter takes a broad look at the policy context for carbon farming

RESEARCH REPORTS

3.1 The policy context

The policy context and the price of ACCUs

RESEARCH REPORTS

3.2 A documented climate challenge…

The policy context and the price of ACCUs

RESEARCH REPORTS

3.3 … with numerous policy responses

The policy context and the price of ACCUs

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Field Days Wrap (November 2024)

Kondinin Group's research team has the low down on the latest gear that was on show at various field days held around the country in the past few months.

editions

Research Report: Trailing Sheep Feeders (October 2024)

Trailing sheep feeders are on the menu for Kondinin Group's October Research Report with nine popular models covered.

editions

Research Report: Livestock Management Software (September 2024)

Kondinin Group's September Research Report looks at a range of livestock management software platforms which can make life a lot easier when it comes to efficient sheep and cattle production.

editions

Research Report: Grain Storage (August 2024)

This month's Research Report from Kondinin Group looks at the benefits and challenges associated with ground level storage with a focus on growers who have done it successfully.