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Nutritional and management methods to decrease nitrogen losses from beef feedlots.

G Erickson¹, T Klopfenstein

¹Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908, USA. geericks@unlnotes.unl.edu

Journal of Animal Science

|January 19, 2010

Summary

Reducing dietary protein and increasing manure organic matter in beef feedlots can decrease nitrogen losses. Frequent pen cleaning also significantly lowers nitrogen volatilization and increases manure nitrogen content.

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Area of Science:

Animal Science
Environmental Science
Agronomy

Background:

Nitrogen losses from open beef feedlots, particularly through volatilization, are an environmental concern.
Strategies to reduce nitrogen volatilization can enhance manure nitrogen content, benefiting feedlot operations.

Purpose of the Study:

To decrease nitrogen volatilization losses and/or increase manure nitrogen content in open beef feedlots.
To investigate the impact of dietary protein levels and manure management practices on nitrogen balance.

Main Methods:

Conducted mass balance studies quantifying nitrogen intake, retention, and excretion.
Compared industry-average crude protein (CP) diets with phase-fed diets (12.1% to 10.9% CP).
Evaluated the effects of increasing organic matter (OM) on pen surfaces, adding bedding, and increasing pen cleaning frequency.

Main Results:

Phase-fed diets reduced nitrogen excretion by 12-21% and volatilization losses by 15-33%.
Increasing pen cleaning frequency decreased nitrogen volatilization by 19-44% and increased manure nitrogen by 26-41%.
Dietary protein reduction did not affect manure nitrogen; organic matter and frequent cleaning did.

Conclusions:

Dietary protein management influences nitrogen volatilization but not overall manure nitrogen content.
Manure organic matter and frequent cleaning are key factors for increasing manure nitrogen and reducing losses.
Seasonal variations impact the effectiveness of certain nitrogen management strategies.