Sensor measurements prove reliable for measuring emissions from dairy barns
- dr. J (Julio) Mosquera Losada
- Researcher Livestock and Environment
Continuous sensor measurements produce results comparable to standard reference methods for measuring ammonia and methane emissions from dairy barns. This is shown by research conducted by Wageningen Livestock Research on four dairy farms in Flanders, Belgium.
The findings demonstrate the potential of sensor technology for long-term emissions monitoring and contribute to the further development of measurement methods.
Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR, part of Wageningen University & Research) conducted emissions measurements on four conventional dairy farms in Flanders over a two-year period. From November 2022 to October 2024, ammonia and methane emissions were measured using both continuous sensor systems and standard reference methods. The Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) were also involved in the measurement campaign.
The results show that the emission levels recorded by continuous sensors did not differ statistically significantly from those measured using standard reference methods. The study therefore confirms that modern sensor technology can provide a reliable basis for long-term emissions monitoring in dairy barns.
Comparable results for ammonia and methane
The researchers compared ammonia (NH₃) and methane (CH₄) emissions measured using both methods. The emissions were calculated using the methods described in the Protocol for Measuring Ammonia Emissions from Livestock Housing Systems 2013a, to allow comparison with the current emission factors. For ammonia, continuous sensor measurements showed an average emission of 18.0 kilograms per animal place per year, compared with 19.0 kilograms using standard reference methods. These figures were adjusted for factors such as milk urea content, outdoor temperature and accessible floor area.
The results for methane were also closely aligned. Continuous sensor measurements showed average emissions of 357 kilograms of methane per animal per year, compared with 351 kilograms using standard reference methods.
Ventilation plays an important role in emissions measurements
In addition to comparing measurement methods, the researchers examined the influence of ventilation on calculated emissions. The ventilation rate, which refers to the volume of air flowing through a barn, appears to be a promising additional factor for making emissions measurements from different barns more comparable.
When ventilation rate is included in the calculations, average ammonia emissions amount to 13.6 kilograms per animal place per year based on continuous measurements and 13.9 kilograms using standard reference methods.
Towards further harmonisation of measurement methods
The study is part of a broader collaboration between WLR and ILVO. By comparing measurement methods and results, the research institutes aim to gain a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the various techniques. This knowledge is important for the further harmonisation of emissions measurements in dairy farming.
The findings not only provide insight into ammonia and methane emissions from conventional cubicle housing systems, but also highlight the potential of continuous sensor measurements for future research, long-term monitoring and policy development.
A comparison of the measurement methods used by WLR, ILVO and TNO will be presented in a separate joint report.
Publication
The research report is available Ammoniak- en methaanemissie uit vier gangbare ligboxenstallen voor melkvee in Vlaanderen (Dutch only).
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