The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture can be achieved by the promotion of sustainable agriculture; the additional reduction in the application of nitrogen fertilisers by using agro-meteorological information to increase fertilisation efficiency; and a reduction in the number of cattle simultaneously increasing milk yield.

Average milk yield

AVERAGE MILK YIELD REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 18

To the solution is added a little potassium permanganate solution, which turns colourless and causes the formation of carbon dioxide. When the resultant carbon dioxide is passed through a barium hydroxide solution, a white precipitate (milkiness) of barium carbonate is formed.

If it proves difficult to determine the quantities of milk used for processing on the basis of the products marketed, the Member States may fix the quantities of milk equivalent on a flat-rate basis by reference to the number of dairy cows held by the producer and an average milk yield per cow representative of the herd.

For the purposes of determining the number of eligible animals under points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph, whether cows belong to a suckler herd or to a dairy herd shall be established on the basis of the beneficiary's individual reference quantity as defined in Article 16(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products(15) and the average milk yield.

The average milk yield shall be calculated on the basis of the average yields set out in Annex II.

However, for this calculation, Member States may use a document recognised by them certifying the producer's dairy herd's average yield.

Detailed rules for the application of this Article and, in particular, those relating to the definition of the concept of suckler cow referred to in Article 3, shall be adopted and the average milk yield shall be determined by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43.

this number of cows shall be calculated using the average milk yield defined in Annex II;

Moreover, the administrative rules which applied under the old scheme may in their essentials continue to be applied, in particular as regards the average milk yield and the additional national premium;

For the purposes of determining the number of eligible animals under points (a) and (b) of the first paragraph of paragraph 2 of this Article, whether cows belong to a suckler herd or to a dairy herd shall be established on the basis of the beneficiary's individual reference quantity as defined in Article 95(2) and the average milk yield.

in the case of cheese and all other milk products, Member States may determine equivalences using, in particular, the dry-matter content and the fat content of the types of cheese or products concerned or fix the quantities of milk equivalent on a flat-rate basis by reference to the number of dairy cows held by the producer and an average milk yield per cow representative of the herd.

For the purposes of determining the number of eligible animals under points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph, whether cows belong to a suckler herd or to a dairy herd shall be established on the basis of the beneficiary's individual reference quantity as defined in Article 16(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (1) and the average milk yield.

Milk recording

Dairy characteristics:

dairy characteristics:

milk production traits for animals of dairy breeds,

Milk recording and assessment of the breeding value of females for milk traits

Milk recording and assessment of the genetic merit of females for milk traits

milk and beef production traits for dual-purpose breeds.

Genetic evaluation of artificial insemination bulls for milk production traits

Milk records used in the determination of the breeding value of females must:

In the genetic evaluation of dairy traits, the milk yield and content (butterfat and protein percentage) as well as other available and relevant data for the genetic aptitude for dairy traits must be included.

Milk yield records used for the assessment of the breeding value of females must be obtained under an official system of milk recording complying with standards laid down by the International Committee for Recording the Productivity of Milk Animals.

Recording milk production data must comply with the principles agreed by competent international bodies (e.g. International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR)).

Where production levels vary considerably according to season, Member States may be authorized, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 31 of this Directive, to apply a different method of calculating results during the low lactation period';

If it proves difficult to determine the quantities of milk used for processing on the basis of the products marketed, the Member States may fix the quantities of milk equivalent on a flat-rate basis by reference to the number of dairy cows held by the producer and an average milk yield per cow representative of the herd.

lactation records used must have a maximum length of 305 days complying with standards laid down by the International Committee for Recording the Productivity of Milk Animals, - influences other than the genetic merit of the sire must be eliminated by appropriate procedures in the determination of its breeding value or predicted differences,