HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van der Stelt, B. Articles by van Riemsdijk, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van der Stelt, B. Articles by van Riemsdijk, W. H.

Effects of Dietary Protein and Energy Levels on Cow Manure Excretion and Ammonia Volatilization

B. van der Stelt^*, P. C. J. van Vliet^*, J. W. Reijs, E. J. M. Temminghoff^*,1 and W. H. van Riemsdijk^*

^* Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, PO Box 8005, 6700 EC Wageningen, the Netherlands
Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands

¹ Corresponding author: erwin.temminghoff{at}wur.nl

Adjusting dietary composition is considered an effective way to reduce nutrient losses to the environment. The effects of various dietary protein and energy levels on manure composition (Ca, Mg, K, Na, N, P, and pH) were studied by determining total and direct available (free) nutrient concentrations in 8 slurries obtained from a feeding trial. Furthermore, the effects of dietary changes on NH₃ volatilization from manure slurries were studied. Increasing the crude protein (CP) content of the feed (108 to 190 g/ kg of dry matter) resulted in an average increase in total N and P content of the slurries of 56 and 48%, respectively. Feeding the cows more energy (5,050 to 6,840 kJ/kg of dry matter) increased total N and P content of the slurries by 27 and 39%, respectively. Total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) amounted to 52 to 77% of the total N content present in manure slurries. A low protein content or a low energy content of the diets reduced TAN concentrations in the slurries by 43% (CP) or 25% (energy). Changes in the protein content or the energy content of the feed did not significantly affect the free:total ratios of Na, Ca, and Mg content of the slurries. In agreement with the calculated NH_3,aq (aqueous) content, the total amount of NH₃ volatilized from manure slurries was much greater (on average 10 times greater) when the cows were fed greater levels of CP. Although the slurries contained more TAN when cows were fed diets richer in energy, NH₃ volatilization from the slurries was lower.

Key Words: dietary adjustment • dairy cow • manure composition • ammonia volatilization

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. P. Weiss, L. B. Willett, N. R. St-Pierre, D. C. Borger, T. R. McKelvey, and D. J. Wyatt Varying forage type, metabolizable protein concentration, and carbohydrate source affects manure excretion, manure ammonia, and nitrogen metabolism of dairy cows J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2009; 92(11): 5607 - 5619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. N. Hristov, S. Zaman, M. Vander Pol, P. Ndegwa, L. Campbell, and S. Silva Nitrogen Losses from Dairy Manure Estimated Through Nitrogen Mass Balance and Chemical Markers J. Environ. Qual., October 29, 2009; 38(6): 2438 - 2448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]