Projet CowficieNcy (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient of food production, but its extended use led to the N cascade phenomenon with considerable effects on atmospheric, freshwater and marine systems. The increased efficiency of N use in dairy production is proposed as key action to reduce N contamination, and mathematical models provide a powerful tool to help with this. We are planning to use two models: The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS; a cow based model) and the Lifetime Nitrogen Efficiency (LNE; a herd based model). The models will be updated on amino acid metabolism (CNCPS), heifer growth and cattle fertility and economics (LNE) increasing not only their accuracy but also their commercial potential. In parallel, an intensive outreach program will incorporate farms in each country to describe N balance situation. This step will provide the necessary time to familiarize and accommodate farms with current model use. The last phase of the project consists on the implementation of the upgraded models in our pilot farms. This will provide a real life example that can generate a shift in agricultural practice towards more efficient and less polluting dairy industry. The European Union has been taken several initiatives either at a research level (e.g. FP-7 project RedNex) or at a legislative level (e.g. the National Emission Ceilings directive 2001/81/EC; currently under revision) to reduce N pollution from dairy production. However, few strategies have been converted into agricultural practice because of the lack of an applied step linking research strategies with the dairy industry. This is the strength of the current project that includes four non-academic partners that consult on thousands of European dairy farms and six European and American academic institutions, two of which developed the models, but all highly prestigious in their countries and internationally.

Mots clés : dairy cattle nutrition, farm nitrogen use efficiency, milk nitrogen use efficiency, nutritional modeling

Participants :
- Autonomous University of Barcelona (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 81000.0 €
- Rum&n sas di melli&c (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 9000.0 €
- Agricultural University of Athens (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 117000.0 €
- Zootrofes - chimika noutria ellas d. tsolakhs ike (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 45000.0 €
- Aberystwyth University (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 36000.0 €
- Mole valley farmers limited (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Parma (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 225000.0 €
- Mendip veterinary services limited (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 13500.0 €
- University of Thessaly (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 342000.0 €
- Consorzio agrario di parma societa cooperativa a responsabilita limitata (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 9000.0 €
- Laboratorios karizoo, sa (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 13500.0 €
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Grèce) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 40500.0 €
- Cornell University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Liverpool (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 49500.0 €
- Wynnstay group plc (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 13500.0 €