Gaseous emissions from a deep litter farming system for dairy cattle

Gaseous emissions (NH3, CH4, N2O, odor) were measured from a deep litter farming system for dairy cattle in the Netherlands (barn and outdoor manure storage). On average, 13.9 kg NH3 per cow were emitted from the barn on a yearly basis. In addition, the outdoor manure storage emitted 7.9 kg NH3 per cow per year. The emission of CH4 from the barn (enteric fermentation + deep litter) was, on average, 1.3 kg day− 1 per cow. Emissions from the manure heap 2 weeks after being placed into the field were factors 3–4 lower than the emissions from the animal house. Nitrous oxide emission from both the barn and the outdoor manure storage was low. Odor measurements at the animal house resulted in an average emission of 73 OUE s− 1 per cow.