Effects of dietary nitrogen manipulation on ammonia volatilization from manure from Holstein heifers

Decomposition of livestock manure produces gaseous ammonia. Dietary manipulation is one means to reduce N in manure and ammonia volatilization. The effects of dietary crude protein concentration on N intake, N and urinary urea-N excretion, and ammonia volatilization were measured. Eight Holstein heifers (body weight = 260 to 488 kg) were fed a total mixed ration containing either 9.6 or 11.0% crude protein in a crossover design. Oatlage and concentrate were fed at 77:23 (dry matter basis), and soybean meal was used to alter total dietary crude protein. Seven-day adjustment periods preceded 5-d collection periods. Indwelling urinary catheters were inserted 2 d prior to the collection periods. Daily feces and acidified urine were collected, stirred, and subsampled for total Kjeldahl N, urinary urea N, dry matter, P, K, and ash. Urine collection tubes were split during period 2 to allow for collection of unacidified samples for urea N and total N determinations. Unacidified urine and fecal samples were combined (1:1.3) for collection of volatilized ammonia. Remaining slurries were extracted for total and urea N. Increased dietary crude protein concentration increased N intake, N excretion, urea-N excretion, and N excreted in the urine by the heifers. Dietary manipulation of N intake by reduction of 14.0% (dry matter basis) resulted in a 28.1% decrease in ammonia emission and decreases in the urea N, total N, and percentage N excreted in the urine of 29.6, 19.8, and 7.4%, respectively. Ammonia volatilization was dependent on N quantity and form in the urine.