Annual/Termination Reports:

[02/09/2012] [01/02/2013] [05/29/2014] [05/28/2015]

Report Information

Participants

Joe Harrison, Washington State University;
Al Rotz, USDA-ARS Pennsylvania;
Rich Muck, Dairy & Forage Research Center, WI;
Vinicius Moeira, Louisiana State University;
Santiago Utsumi, Michigan State University;
David Combs, University of Wisconsin;
Zhengxia Dou, University of Pennsylvania;
Rhonda Miller, Utah State University;
Mike Westendorf, Rutgers University, NJ;
Stephen Herbert, Administrative Advisor, University of Mass.;
By Video Conference: -Tim Randhir, University of Mass. and John Westra, Louisiana State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

This will be the first report for NE-1044.

Administrative Update: The NE-1044 project has been approved. The federal budget for Experiment Stations (Hatch budget) is still pending with big differences in the proposed House and Senate budgets. To gain more support for agricultural funding, one approach that may be pursued is to have one budget line for agriculture. Everything would be in one line, rather than multiple lines. The split between competitive funds and capacity-building funds is yet to be determined. There is also an increased emphasis on sustainability and whether we can continue to support our growing world population.

USDA Update: Steve Smith, our USDA representative, was unable to make it to the meeting.

Dave Combs will be chair next year. Will meet in Wisconsin next year. Marshfield is 3 hours north of Madison. Rhonda Miller will be secretary.

State Reports

University of Massachusetts

Tim Randhir: Current research work examines nutrient dynamics at a watershed scale. The effects of climate, water uncertainty, etc. are being examined.

Stephen Herbert: Research examines nutrient removal by cover crops. The cover crops utilize 40-50% more N if the cover crop is planted by Sept 1 vs Sept 15. This has been converted to GDD needed. Also examining the land area required to replace the energy used by electricity and potential solutions by mixing solar energy collection and pasture production. Solar panels have been mounted several feet above the ground with access for grazing below the panels. Study examines the spacing needed to maintain productive plant growth. Masoud Hashemi is taking over the work examining ammonia volatilization from manure application. Found that ammonia loss is reduced if manure application is delayed until later in the year when the temperatures are lower. Incorporation after application greatly reduced ammonia losses.

Louisiana State University

John Westra: Research modeling current land use to determine the effects of increasing pasture or perennial cover in beef and dairy systems. The impacts on capacity, sediment, nutrient loading, and farm income are being examined.

Vinicius Moeira: Research evaluates plant growth on artificial floating islands to improve multi-stage wastewater treatment systems. Goal is to treat water as much as possible to minimize transportation costs. Grew oats, rye, ryegrass, sunflower, sweet sorghum, corn, forage sorghum, and pearl millet in anaerobic lagoons, aerobic lagoons, and constructed wetland systems. Measured total dry matter, and nutrients including Ca, Mg, N, and P harvested per day. Aerobic lagoons had the best results for the cool season grasses. Corn did better than everything else in the anaerobic lagoons. Currently in the second year of the study. Future plans include examining plants that have deeper root systems.

Dairy Research Center, University of Wisconsin

Rich Muck: Research examines the effects of a silage inoculant on rumen microflora and milk production. Lactobacillus plantarum (Ecosyl MTD/1) alters the rumen microbial community, milk production, and efficiency of nitrogen utilization compared to untreated silage. This inoculant has had a large amount of research conducted on it. Ecosyl MTD/1 results in increased milk production even when no observed effect in the silage was present. When fed directly to the cows no effect was observed. Think the effect is occurring in the silo, resulting in an improvement in microbial biomass production. Monitoring the in vivo effects by sampling fluid at the omasum and by using PCR techniques to observe changes in the rumen microbial populations. Significant changes have been observed in ARISA populations, MUN, protein %, lactose. No effect on milk fat.

Other work going on at Marshfield includes paired watersheds and manure application practices, the effect of tannins on ammonia and GHG emissions, and some work with red clover looking at the effect of polyphenol oxidase and the impact on nitrogen utilization.

University of Wisconsin

Dave Combs: Work evaluates the comparative attributes of grazing, organic, and conventional management systems focusing on profitability and stewardship. Meadow fescue or tall fescue silage was fed in combination with alfalfa and corn silage to evaluate the effects on milk production and the potential to reduce sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in lactating dairy cows. This data indicates that high quality meadow and tall fescue silages can be fed to high producing dairy cows without a decrease in fat corrected milk production. Another study examined the impact of grazing experiences early in life on grazing behavior and performance of lactating dairy heifers in a 3-year study. GPS units were utilized to monitor cow movement. Those with no previous grazing experience tended to move around very little when grazing. Milk production was lowest initially for cows with no previous grazing experience. Results indicate that previous grazing experience can impact behavior and milk production during the first 3 days on pasture. After this time, experienced and inexperienced cattle presented a similar grazing behaviors and performance. Also working on a fiber digestion predictor to predict in vivo digestibility from the in vitro values. Are two parts to the spreadsheet:

1) Model that uses in vitro NDFD values to predict ruminal rates of NDF degradation. Ruminal and total tract fiber digestion coefficients are then determined.

2) Consultants tool to predict ration energy supply (NEI) and DDM value of tested forages.

Utah State University

Rhonda Miller: Working on a study with Dr. Scott Jones that is developing low-cost air quality sensors. Air quality emissions from manure storage facilities and from land application under various manure management practices will be examined in both dairy and beef systems.

Michigan State University

Santiago Utsumi: Kellogg Biological Station Dairy Project conducts long-term research examining ecosystem processes and impacts. Research includes simple versus complex mixtures, high-input versus low-input, forage intake, and animal movement in pastures, and the use of automatic milking systems on economic, social, and environmental factors.

USDA-ARS Pennsylvania

Al Rotz: Dairy Gas Emission Model (DairyGEM) calculates ammonia and hydrogen sulfide volatilization, GHG emissions, and carbon footprint. Working on adding VOCs. Are 100-150 types of VOCs from silage. Also adding an anaerobic digestor component, biogas use and electricity production. Most ammonia emissions occur during field application. Carbon footprint component shows that beef cow-calf operations are responsible for 70-75% of the total carbon footprint. Nitrate leaching was greater from pasture-based dairy. Ammonia and GHG emissions were greater from the confinement dairy. Carbon footprint of milk produced was similar for the pasture-based dairy and the confinement dairy. Carbon sequestration of the pasture-based system was slightly lower than that of the confinement dairy.

University of Pennsylvania

Zhengxia Dou: Two separate projects. One study looks at farm interventions and the resulting economic impact in 10 study herds (all confined) over 3 years. Dietary protein was generally 16-18% - more were decreasing protein % than increasing. Dietary P % - most holding steady or slightly decreasing, but one was increasing a lot. Fecal protein % - generally increasing, but highly variable. Fecal P % was decreasing slightly. Pregnancy rate % was generally improving. Estimated N excretion (g/kg milk) was highly variable. Estimated P excretion (g/kg milk) was generally decreasing. Second project examined the impact of manure pH and temperature treatment and the effect on pathogens (Salmonella Newport and E. Coli 157). Both pathogens can survive after manure excretion, and in soil for over 450 days. Under low pH (3.6 and 4.2) pathogens lived only about one week. Lived longer with a pH of 4.5 and higher. Unamended manure has a pH of 7.3. Newport died when the pH was increased to 11. At 42 degrees C both pathogens lived ~350 days, at 22 degrees C lived ~55 days.

Rutgers University, New Jersey

Mike Westendorf: Developing a series of videos for small livestock farms. Nutrient Mgt videos can be found at http://njaes.rugters.edu/animal-waste-management/videos.asp

Also developing an on-line composting school for small farms, and a program to aid small farmers in preparing nutrient management plans. Conducting Best Management Practice (BMP) demonstrations on small farms and the use of okara as a feed for ruminants. Okara is a by-product of the soybean and tofu industry.

Washington State University

Joe Harrison: Examining gaseous emissions from anaerobic digested lagoon vs raw manure and whether injected or surface applied.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

David Combs, University of Wisconsin
Brianna Eisenburg, USDA-ARS, Pennsylvania
Joe Harrison, Washington State University
Yoko Kusunose, University of Kentucky
Rhonda Miller, Utah State University
Rich Muck, Dairy & Forage Research Center
J. Mark Powell, Dairy & Forage Research Center
Stephen Herbert, Administrative Advisor, Univ. Mass.
Steve Smith, NIFA Rep. (by conference call)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Administrative Update
One of the criticisms of this project was that it looked too much like a collection of individual projects. In the future, it would be helpful if we elaborated more on how we each benefit from this meeting and each other.

USDA Update
Sonny Ramaswamy is the new NIFA Director. RFAs should be released soon. Will have normal language saying contingent on funding. Delay in writing the RFA for some of the AFRI programs. Will likely combine the 2012 and 2013 RFA into one call (primarily foundational programs).
Rhonda Miller will be chair next year. Joe Harrison will be secretary next year. Yolo will host the meeting next year in Kentucky.

Accomplishments

PROGRESS OF WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS<br /> <br /> Objective 1: Characterize and develop management practices to reduce GHG emissions and transport of nutrients, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and VOCs from livestock production systems.<br /> <br /> KY  (Kusunose)<br /> A plan was developed at the Annual Meeting (Oct. 8-10, 2012 in Madison, WI) to document current efforts to convert manure and manure derivatives into marketable resources in Washington (Harrison), Wisconsin (Combs, Muck), and elsewhere. Kusunose will lead this initiative over the next year. Transportation and product information (e.g. nutrient value, handling, original feedstock) were identified as two major barriers to marketing. <br /> <br /> LA  (Moreira) <br /> The objective of this project was to evaluate and improve primary (anaerobic/facultative lagoon), secondary (aerobic lagoon) and tertiary (constructed wetland) dairy wastewater treatment practices that are appropriate for manure typically collected in grazing dairy farms. This project was initiated in September, 2010 with the intent to 1  promote uptake by plants grown on islands; and 2  stimulate nitrogen volatilization through denitrification at the intersection of floating islands with the wastewater lagoon surface. During 2010-2011, floating islands were used in two densities covering anaerobic lagoons, 2,000 vs. 1,000 sq ft or 8% vs. 14% coverage, respectively. Corn and ryegrass, and anaerobic lagoons were chosen for this study based on a two-year study carried out during the 2009 and 2010 cool and warm seasons. Ryegrass was planted in the fall and was harvested in the spring in both years (2010-2011, and 2011-2012). Corn was planted immediately after June ryegrass harvest. A poor corn crop was harvested in September, 2011. Over 250 samples were collected from November 2010 until August 2012 (12 samples/collection). Each sample was analyzed for 23 water quality characteristics including nutrients (N, P, Cl, F, SO2), pathogens, and chemical oxygen demand. Forage samples were processed to evaluate yields and nutrient outputs. Dairy cows Escherichia coli isolated from wetland samples were identified as survivor strains or non-survivor strains by DNA fingerprinting. Survivor strains seem to exhibit GASP phenotype, which allows specific populations of E. coli to persist and contaminate waters downstream. A poster was presented during the 2012 USDA-CSREES National Water Conference in Portland, OR. The poster summarized results from the study selecting forages and stages best suited for plant growth on the three-stage treatment system. Preliminary results were shared with dairy producers during the 2011 fall and 2012 spring Southeast Research Station field day.<br /> <br /> PA - (Rotz)<br /> Modeling VOC Emissions: Silage and manure are important sources of VOC emissions in dairy and beef production. A model for predicting silage emissions was revised and a new component model was developed to predict emissions from manure sources. Together these components estimate the major VOC emissions from farms. Emissions from manure are determined using a two-film, steady-state emission model for five groups of compounds (two groups of acids, alcohols, and two groups of aromatics). Limited measurements of VOCs in manure show that VOCs may be produced or destroyed during manure storage; however, there is not enough information known about these processes to develop a model that predicts their development. Instead bulk concentrations of compounds are set at an initial value, and cumulative emissions are calculated over fixed times, allowing for a decrease in VOC concentrations within manure. Emissions are estimated from manure during three stages: on the barn floor, during storage, and after field application. Emissions are adjusted according to their reactivity to determine the ozone formation potential of the emitted compounds. These new components were incorporated and tested in our Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) where they will be used to evaluate strategies for mitigating VOC production.<br /> Environmental Footprints of Beef Production Systems: The environmental footprints of the beef produced at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska were determined through a simulation study. Relevant information for their operation was gathered and used to establish parameters to represent their beef production system with IFSM. Model simulated predictions agreed well with actual records for feed production and use, energy use and production costs in 2011. A preliminary analysis of the current production system of the Meat Animal Research Center shows that the carbon footprint of the beef produced is 11 lb of carbon dioxide equivalent units per lb of live weight sold. This carbon footprint is a little lower than most previously published values. The energy required to produce that beef (energy footprint) is 11,150 Btu/lb of live weight sold. The total water required (water footprint) is 2,550 gallon/lb of live weight, and the water footprint excluding that obtained through precipitation is 340 gallon/lb of live weight sold. The simulated total cost of producing their beef was about $1.00/lb of live weight sold, which agrees with their production records. Simulations are being developed for 2005 and 1970 to determine if the environmental footprints have improved over time.<br /> <br /> UT  (Miller) <br /> Four treatments: 1) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), no fertilizer (TFNF; 2) tall fescue, fertilizer (TFWF); 3) tall fescue, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) (TFBFT); and tall fescue, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (TFALF) were planted at the Intermountain West Pasture Facility located near Lewiston, Utah in the fall of 2010. Data collection began in 2012. Ammonium sulfate fertilizer (35 kg ha-1) is applied approximately every 30 days during the growing season. Paddocks are irrigated biweekly. Plots are grazed for seven days and then allowed to regrow before grazing again. Herbage dry matter is collected before and after each grazing event to determine total N in plant removal. Soil water (leachate) nitrogen is monitored by means of zero-tension lysimeters that were previously installed at this location. Leachate is collected every two weeks during the growing season, and as close as possible to every two weeks during the winter months. Leachate samples are analyzed for nitrate-nitrite using QuikChem Method 10-107-04-1-C on the Lachat auto-analyzer. Soil samples are collected at the beginning and end of each growing season and analyzed for available nitrogen (ammonia and nitrate) using potassium chloride on the Lachat auto-analyzer, QuikChem Method 10-107-04-1-C, and for total N by combustion analysis using a LECO TruSpec CN elemental analyzer. A mass balance approach comparing total nitrogen outputs against total nitrogen inputs for each treatment will be utilized to estimate losses due to volatilization. <br /> <br /> WA  (Harrison) <br /> Nutrient transformation and fate of pathogens in manure will be further evaluated with anaerobic digestion and method of application of dairy manure. Grass uptake of nitrogen will be characterized in replicated field plots as affected by source of dairy manure (anaerobically digested (AD) or non-AD manure) and type of application (broadcast or subsurface deposition). In addition, emission of nitrous oxide will be determined as affected by manure source (AD or non-AD manure). Pathogen fate and transport will be characterized as affected by manure type (AD or non-AD manure) in replicated plots where runoff from natural rain events will be monitored and sampled. It has been known that E. coli O157:H7 and multidrug resistant Salmonella Newport have established reservoirs in dairy cattle. We will study the survival and transport behavior of these pathogens under various conditions and to understand how environmental parameters may affect, and subsequently be manipulated to alter their fate in the post-shed environment. Specifically, we will investigate the survival kinetics of the organisms in manure and manured soils under different treatment conditions. <br /> A three year agronomic plot study was completed that evaluated the nitrogen use efficiency of undigested and anaerobically digested dairy manure. AD and non-AD manure support equal grass production when applied at equal amounts of total N. Anaerobically digested dairy slurry was shown to provide adequate soil fertility and N availability for crop uptake and forage production over the three field seasons. <br /> There was no indication of differences between sources of manure for pounds of uptake of P by the grass crop. However, more P was applied with non-AD manure vs AD manure which complicates the interpretation. When the P uptake data was expressed as a ratio (P uptake/P applied) the AD manured forage showed a higher ratio. Further investigation of P availability from AD manure is warranted. Subsurface deposition of manure did not increase forage yield or N uptake compared with surface broadcast application, possibly because the slurries were low enough in solids to infiltrate readily into the soil, and because the subsurface injectors may have disrupted plant growth.<br /> An additional goal was to evaluate if AD manure had any negative impacts in the soil microbial communities. Source of manure had little effect on soil enzymes or microbial communities. Greatest treatment differences were seen between the manure and urea treatments. Flooding of the plot area had a dramatic yet fleeting impact on the enzymes and communities. Application of anaerobically digested slurry did increase nitrifier and denitrifier gene copies that correlated with N2O production. <br /> AD and non-AD manure, as well as the solids content was evaluated for their effect in NH3 emission on day of application to grass plots. AD manure was shown to have the least amount of NH3 emission, non-AD with large particle solids removed to be intermediate, and non-AD manure to have the greatest NH3 emission on day of application.<br /> The data collected on nutrient partitioning after liquid-solids separation indicates a range: in solids separation of 13 to 25 %, in N separation of 4.3 to 12.9 %, and in P separation of 9.2 to 21.5 %. The EYS screw system resulted in greater removal of solids, N and P, but was observed to require greater maintenance and had a lower liquid throughput rate. The overall observation of significance is that the majority (>75%) of solids and nutrients reside with the liquid fraction.<br /> <br /> WI  (Powell)<br /> Feeding tannin extract and less crude protein (CP) to dairy cows may have synergistic impacts on reducing urinary N excretion and NH3 emissions from dairy barns and land applied manure. Holstein dairy cows were fed four levels (g kg-1) of dietary tannin extract (mixture from red quebracho and chestnut trees): 0 (0T), 4.5 (LT), 9.0 (MT) and 18.0 (HT); each fed at two levels (g kg-1) of dietary CP: 155 (LCP) and 168 (HCP). The addition of tannin extracts to the diets did not significantly impact animal performance but increased feed N use efficiency and decreased N excretion in urine. Reductions in NH3 emission from simulated barn floors due to tannin feeding were greatest when tannin was fed at LCP: the LCP-LT and LCP-HT treatments emitted 30.6% less NH3 than LCP-0T; and the HCP-LT and HCP-HT treatments emitted 16.3% less NH3 than HCP-0T. Feeding tannin extract decreased urease activity in feces resulting in 11.5% reduction in NH3 loss. The application of tannin directly to simulated barn floor also reduced NH3 emissions by 19.0%. Tannin did not significantly impact NH3 emissions from soils. But emissions from the HCP slurry were 1.53 to 2.57 times greater than from the LCP slurry. At trials end concentrations of soil inorganic N were greater in HCP slurry-amended soils than in LCP slurry-amended soils. Emissions from the sandy loam soil were 1.07 to 1.15 times greater than from silt loam soil, a result which decreased soil inorganic N in the sandy loam compared to the silt loam soil. <br /> <br /> WI - Wattiaux<br /> Experiments were conducted to evaluate possible mitigation strategies to reduce gaseous emissions from dairy farms. In trial 1 (Aguerre et al. 2010c; Aguerre et al. 2011a), increasing the proportion of forage in the diet from 47 to 68% while maintaining dietary CP, increased CH4 emission per unit of milk by 25% but did not alter NH3 emission or milk production. In a follow-up study (Trial 2; Aguerre et al. 2012a), the pattern of change in volatile C loss (CO2 and CH4,) and volatile N loss (NH3 and N2O) during a 77-day storage period was determined using the manure collected from cows in the companion study (Trial 1). Dietary treatments had no effect on emission rates. However when a crust formed after 28 days of storage, NH3 emission became negligible. In addition to its physical effects, the crust may have provided a growth environment for bacterial species that use NH3 and CH4 as substrate, reducing emission of these compounds, but promoting the production and emission of N2O and CO2, respectively. In trial 3 (Arndt et al. 2010ab), alfalfa silage (AS) and corn silage (CS) were fed at 20:80, 40:60, 60:40 and 80:20 ratio, in a 55:45 forage to concentrate ratio diet. Varying the AS:CS ratio had no effect on NH3 emission. Although greatest CH4 emission was observed at ratio of 40:60, primary forage did not affect CH4 emission per unit of milk. <br /> Feeding tannins at a level that does not compromise animal performance might be used to reduce urinary N and therefore NH3 emissions. Data from a lactation study (Trial 4; Aguerre et al., 2010ab) suggested that incorporating tannin in the diet at 1.8% DM at two dietary CP levels (15.5 vs. 16.8 %DM), did not alter manure N but increased fecal N and reduced urine N, with limited impact on animal performance. Manure from cows fed 1.8% tannin and 15.5 or 16.8% dietary CP, emitted 30.5 and 16.3% less NH3 than no tannin diet, respectively (Powell et al. 2011). On a follow up study (Trial 5; Aguerre et al., 2011b), our objective was to determine the effects of a tannin extract on lactating cow performance and emission of CH4 and NH3, and whether any responses were affected by dietary forage to concentrate ratio. Adding tannin to the diet at a 0.45% inclusion rate (DM basis) had negative effects on performance and increased CH4 emission per unit of ECM by 8% but had no effect on manure NH3 emission, regardless of the dietary content of forage. <br /> The objective of Trial 6 (Arndt et al., 2011) was to determine whether CH4 emission is lower for high feed efficient (kilograms of milk/kilograms of dry matter intake; HE) compared with low feed efficient (LE) lactating dairy cows. High compared to low feed efficiency was associated with lower CH4 emission (grams) per kilogram of milk (16.0 vs. 23.7 g/kg). Future research should assess the additive effect of combining different mitigation strategies and the potential trade-offs between NH3, N2O and CH4 emission reduction in large scale and long-term field trials.<br /> A Markov chain model was used to simulate a herd dynamics based on productive and reproductive input parameters and estimate the impact of reproductive performance on CH4 emission, and N and P excretion of dairy cows (Aguerre et al., 2012b). Under the simulation conditions of this study, changes in herd structure associated with improved reproductive performance reduced predicted environmental impact while improving profitability.<br /> <br /> Objective 2: Enhance productivity and optimize nutrient use efficiency by dairy and beef cattle.<br /> <br /> WI  (Combs)<br /> We evaluated partially replacing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage and corn (Zea mays L.) silage with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) silage, meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds) silage, or wheat straw (Triticum aestivum ) to test the hypothesis that the energy from non-fibrous carbohydrates can be partially replaced by the energy from digestible fiber without reducing DMI or milk production in total mixed rations (TMR) for dairy cows. Forty eight lactating dairy were fed one of four treatment diets in a 98 d study. The four treatment rations consisted of an alfalfa silage and corn silage-based TMR formulated for a low neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content 25%, and three TMRs formulated for 28% NDF where tall fescue silage, meadow fescue silage, or wheat straw partially replaced alfalfa and corn silages. The in vitro and in situ NDF digestibility of tall and meadow fescue silages were equal to or greater than the alfalfa silage and greater than the corn silage and wheat straw. The total tract NDF digestibility was highest for cows consuming the grass diets. Organic matter digestibility was higher when cows ate tall fescue than wheat straw or did not receive supplemental fiber. No differences in DMI (26.0 kg/d) or 3.5% fat-corrected milk production (41.9 kg/d) were found between treatment diets, although higher milk yield and lower milk fat (% and yield) were observed for cows that did not have supplemental fiber in their diets. These results indicate that highly digestible fiber from grass silages can partially replace non-fibrous carbohydrates without reducing DMI and FCM production. This study evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum with or without Lactobacillus buchneri on the fermentation and aerobic stability of mixed tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds) silage ensiled at different dry matters. The first cut was harvested at boot stage and second-cut grasses were harvested when 30 to 35 cm tall. Four DM content treatments of the first-cut were 17.9%, 24.9%, 34.6%, and 48.7%; and of second-cut were 29.1%, 36.3%, 44.1%, and 49.2%. Chopped grasses at each DM content were treated with 1) deionized water (control); 2) L. plantarum-MTD1 (LP); or 3) a combination of L. plantarum MTD-1 with L. buchneri 40788 (LP+LB). The application rate of each inoculant to the fresh forage was 1×106 cfu/g. Grasses were ensiled in vacuum sealed polyethylene bags containing 150 g of DM for 60 d with four replicates for each treatment. Silages inoculated with LP+LB had greater pH compared with untreated or LP treated silages (P < 0.05). Lactate was greater in LP silage than control or LP+LB silages (P < 0.05). As silage DM increased, lactate in untreated and LP treated silages decreased, but increased in LP+LB treated silage (P <0.001). Acetate concentration decreased with increased DM in all silages. LP+LB treated silage had the longest and control silage the shortest aerobic stability for both harvests. The greatest values in aerobic stability were observed in silages with highest DM content (P < 0.05). In this study, aerobic stability of grass mixes ensiled between 18% and 44% DM increased as DM% increased. LP and LP+LB inoculants improved aerobic stability of silages harvested between 18% and 44% DM. <br /> <br /> WI  (Powell)<br /> Whereas much is known about relationships between dairy cow rations, milk production, manure excretion and environmental risks of confinement dairy production, much less is known about these relationships on grazing- based farms. Seasonal snap-shots of feed-milk-manure relationships on grazing-based dairy farms were taken to determine relationships (1) between feed N intake (NI), milk production, milk urea N (MUN), feed N use efficiency (FNUE), and excreted manure N (ExN), and (2) between feed P intake (PI), fecal P (FP) concentrations, and excreted manure P (ExP). An additional objective was to assess correspondence between feed, milk and manure relationships established on confinement dairy farms to those on grazing-based dairy farms. Four dairy farms located south eastern Australia were visited during autumn and spring. Information was gathered on feed practices for six cows selected randomly from each of high, medium and low producing cow groups on each farm. Samples of each ration component, and milk and feces from each cow were taken. Total ration dry matter intake (DMI) was calculated as the sum of feed supplements (silage, hay, by-products, grain, concentrates) offered manually plus the amount of pasture estimated indirectly using a bio-energetic approach. Each farm offered a similar basal ration with varying levels of barley grain (0.5 to 8.8 kg cow-1 d-1) or concentrate (0.8 to 9.4 kg cow-1 d-1). Although milk production was greater during spring than autumn, milk response (2.23 L kg-1 DMI) was similar during both seasons. Milk responses to NI were greater during spring (63 mL g-1) than during autumn (55 mL g-1), and milk response to supplemental grain or concentrate were variable. Ration CP concentrations during spring ranged from 183 to 248 g kg-1, or 11% to 50% greater than recommendations for high producing cows on confinement farms. As ration CP increased FNUE declined. In contrast to findings on confinement farms, no significant relationships were found between ration CP and MUN, or between MUN, parity, or milking frequency. NI and DMI provided the best predictors of ExN, and PI provided the most accurate prediction of ExP. Unlike findings on confinement farms, no relationships were found between ration P and fecal P. A significant positive relationship between total P in feces and HCl-extractable P in feces indicates that ration P (range of 4.4 to 6.4 g kg-1) on the study farms exceeded cow requirements.<br /> <br /> Objective 3. Evaluate the comparative attributes of grazing, organic and conventional management systems, focusing on profitability and stewardship. <br /> <br /> MA  (Herbert, Weis ,Hashemi, Randhir)<br /> In the spring of 2010, a field at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Crops and Animal Research and Education Center (CAREC)in South Deerfield, MA, approximately 100 ft x 200 ft was selected for the experiment. The field did not have a history of manure application. Stubble had been left from corn grown the previous season. The field was subdivided into three 200 ft long strips, each approximately 30 ft wide. One strip was conventionally disked, one strip was cultivated with an Aerway® vertically to a depth of about 8 inches, and the third strip was left bare. At approximately 8:00 AM on May 27, 2010, liquid manure was spread uniformly at a rate of about 6,000 gallons per acre. Immediately upon the manure trucks departure, the third strip of the plot was disked. At the same time, 12 ammonia collection units, four for each treatment, were set up on the field to measure ammonia volatilization. Each unit remained at one location for one hour, at which time the jar collecting the ammonia was removed for N analysis. For the first 8 hours, the apparatus was moved hourly to another location within the plot. After 8 hours, units were placed on the plots for one hour periods four times over the following three days. The experiment was repeated in 2011 with a few changes as follow: The plot used in 2011 was more uniform than the one used in 2010. It was on slightly higher ground located approximately 1000 ft northwest of the plot used in 2010. The disk?manure treatment of 2010 was replaced by a No-till?manure treatment for assessment of ammonia volatilization in 2011, though the disk?manure treatment was included for soil nitrate measurement and corn yield assessment. Corn was planted on the entire plot on June 1, 2010 or June 13, 2011. In order to more fully assess effect of treatments, no additional fertilizer was used on the plots, even if need was anticipated. Ten foot sections of each plot were harvested on September 3, 2010 or September 13, 2011 for yield analysis. Ears and stover were separated in order to assess silage quality as well as total yield. In addition, stalk samples were taken to determine nitrate status of the plants. The immediate disking in of the manure reduced loss of nitrogen through volatilization of ammonia. For all treatments, excepting Aerway?manure in 2011, the greatest single hour loss of ammonia was during the first hour following manure application. Ammonia loss continued beyond 3 days, but the rate was always per day by the third day following manure application. Measured ammonia nitrogen loss was up to about 5 lbs N per acre in the three days following manure application when no post-manure cultivation was used. This was reduced to less than 1 lb per acre if the field was disked immediately. Pre-application cultivating with the Aerway was better than conventional disking or no-till, but was not nearly as effective in preventing N loss as was immediate post-application disking. Overall, silage yield and quality were best on the Manure?Disk?Plant treatment. <br /> <br /> <br /> Objective 4. Develop science-based tools and educational materials to promote environmental stewardship on US dairy and beef industries. <br /> <br /> MA  (Herbert, Weis ,Hashemi, Randhir)<br /> The Cover Crop Planting tool is currently operational on the web as Cover Crop Planting DSS (Decision Support System) at http://aqua1.eco.umass.edu/cropDSS/cdss.html/ for Massachusetts (Figure on right). The GDD values are compiled for the New England region and used in calculating optimal cover crop planting date. The site data from weather stations and elevation points are process in GIS. Thirty years of climate information is used in calculating optimal planting dates for cover crop (Fall Rye). The spatial data points are spline interpolated for spatial coverage in the region. GIS data on climatic variables is being processed for regional and other larger scales. A map of optimal planting dates for Fall Rye for the northeast US is presented on the left. The datasets are converted to shape files for use in the DSS. The Web-based DSS is extended to mobile platforms so that farmers have easy access to the spatial information. The mobile platform is being developed for IPad and Android operating systems. An implementation of the DSS in Android operating system in Google Nexus is presented at the right. This IOs operating system version is being tested for use in IPad. Testing the tools at farmer fields is being conducted for validating performance of the tools at various spatial locations. Nutrient loss reduction and economic gains from optimal planting regimes is presented along with optimal planting dates. <br /> <br /> PA  (Rotz)<br /> IFSM and DairyGEM: The Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) and the Dairy Gas Emissions Model (DairyGEM) provide software tools that illustrate the complexity and many interactions among the physical and biological components of farms. Refinement and expansion of both tools continued throughout the year. New versions of each were made available in December and September. The new versions provide hydrogen sulfide emissions and water and energy footprints for simulated production systems along with the former emission predictions for ammonia, greenhouse gases and carbon footprint. The latest version of IFSM also includes the prediction of the reactive nitrogen footprint of crop, beef and dairy production systems. This software is available through Internet download for use in individual, workshop and classroom education. <br /> <br /> WA - (Harrison)<br /> The Feed Nutrient Management Planning Economics Tool (FNMP$) will be refined to include the following: a) addition of dairy manure handling systems that include liquid-solids separation, sand bedding and sand separation; b) more accurate estimates of nutrient and solids flows and transformations in beef feedlot systems; c) feed management factors into tool function that can affect nutrient losses; d) adding additional crops, nutrients, and revised nutrient estimates; e) adding micronutrients such as magnesium, sulfur, and others that create added value for off farm transport; f) effect of rainfall and on-farm water management on manure volume; g) multiple cropping systems on a given field within a year ; h) varied Field by field management with respect to P or N nutrient management planning; i) an irrigation option; j) updated equipment prices; k) providing a version of the tool on-line for remote use, l) adding file sharing and storage options, and m) modifying options for off farm transport, haul only cost versus haul and spread.<br /> Refinements have been made to the beef version of the FNMP$ tool and have focused on more accurate estimates of nutrient and solids flows and transformations in beef feedlot systems.<br /> Anaerobic Digester Optimization Tool (ADOPT) - The ADOPT model was designed to simulate the daily management of an AD. ADOPT is a linear programming model that maximizes the annual net revenue of the AD using a daily time step subject to the AD design capacity and operating constraints. The ADOPT models objective function is represented in the following equation. <br /> <br /> The equation is simply the AD profit function that the model maximizes the difference between daily revenues produced minus the daily operating variable costs and the annual fixed costs. Where t represents a day summed over the year T=365. The variable i represents each revenue source, i = 1 to n, multiplied by the price received for each revenue source, Pit. The daily variable cost is VCjt for each variable cost factor j and FC is the annual fixed cost FC. Figure 1 shows the inflows into the AD and the n revenue sources for the ADOPT model. The following sections describe the project site, revenue sources and costs modeled in ADOPT.<br /> <br /> WI  (Powell)<br /> We evaluated relationships between feed nitrogen (N) intake, milk urea N (MUN), urinary urea N (UUN) and ammonia (NH3) emissions from dairy farms. Regression relationships between MUN (within the range of 10 to 25 mg/dL), UUN, and relative NH3 emissions from barns were developed from studies conducted in Wisconsin, California, and The Netherlands. Relative reductions in NH3 emission were calculated as percent decreases in NH3 emissions associated with a baseline MUN level of 14 mg/dL (prevailing industry average). The two studies with cows in stanchion chambers provided relative linear reductions in NH3 emission of 14.1 to 25.6% when MUN levels decreased from 14 to 10 mg/dL. Similarly, analyses of 4 free-stall studies provided relative linear reductions in NH3 emissions of 10.3 to 33.7% when MUN levels declined from 14 to 10 mg/dL. Wide-spread, effective use of MUN as a management tool to assess the impact of farm practices on NH3 emissions under a variety of commercial dairy farm conditions requires reliable and repeatable methods of both MUN and NH3 measurements. <br /> <br /> <br /> WORK PLANNED FOR 2013<br /> <br /> LA  (Moreira)<br /> The last corn crop will be harvested and forage analyses will be completed to evaluate plant uptake. <br /> <br /> KY  (Kusunose)<br /> Coordinate with Harrison, Combs, and other members of the NE-1044 Regional Research Project to gather case studies of manure utilization/marketing in Washington, Wisconsin, and possibly other states. Identify successful strategies for closing the nutrient cycle by marketing manure- or manure-derived non-fertilizer products.<br /> <br /> PA  (Rotz)<br /> 1. Work will continue on the development and evaluation of a process-based simulation of silage and manure VOC emissions from farms. Farm scale emission data are being measured on California dairies for use in model evaluation.<br /> 2. An evaluation of the environmental footprints of beef production at the Meat Animal Research Center will be completed and changes in these footprints over the past 40 years will be determined.<br /> <br /> UT  (Miller)<br /> The effects of tannin on nitrogen content in the urine and feces under five (5) treatments will be examined:<br /> " Treatment A  Tall Fescue/Alfalfa and plain drinking water<br /> " Treatment B  Tall Fescue/Alfalfa and drinking water with tannin added<br /> " Treatment C  Tall Fescue/Birdsfoot Trefoil and plain drinking water<br /> " Treatment D  Tall Fescue and plain drinking water<br /> " Treatment E  Tall Fescue and drinking water with tannin added<br /> <br /> Fifteen (15) cows with similar weights, age, and body condition will randomly be assigned one of five treatments. Cows will be outfitted with a harness system to support the urine and fecal collection system. On day 1 of the study, cows will be randomly assigned to one of the five treatments and placed in the appropriate paddock. Water intake will be monitored. On day 3, tannin will be added to the drinking water in the appropriate treatments. Water intake will continue to be monitored. On day 4, the cows will be catheterized and outfitted with the urine and feces collection system. <br /> Fecal samples and urine samples will be collected as needed for 72 hours. Water consumption for each cow will be monitored throughout the study. After 72 hours, the harness and urine and fecal collection system will be removed. Feces and urine samples will be composited into 12-hour segments. The feces will be weighed and the volume of urine will be determined. Samples will be analyzed for nitrogen and tannin content. <br /> <br /> WA  (Harrison)<br /> Complete summary and publish three year study to evaluate the effect of two types of manure (anaerobically digested (AD) and non-AD) and the effect of solids removal on NH3 emission on day of application. <br /> Continue year three of three year study to evaluate the effect of two types of manure (anaerobically digested (AD) and non-AD) and two methods of manure application (surface broadcast and injected) for corn growth. Data will include nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and gaseous losses.<br /> Continue refinement of FNMP$ tool and ADOPT.<br /> <br /> WI  (Powell)<br /> " Complete analyses and submit for publication Feed-milk-manure nitrogen relationships in global dairy systems based on use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. <br /> " Complete data entry and analyses to evaluate the effects of dairy manure N application rate and frequency and of the relative contribution of manure N and fertilizer N on corn yields, N uptake, and distribution of total and mineral N in soil.<br /> " Label dairy ration components (corn silage and grain, alfalfa silage, soybean meal) in 15N, feed them to lactating dairy cows, and collect samples of milk, feces, and urine<br /> " Continue research on impact of tannins on feed N use efficiency and manure N transformations in air and soil.<br /> <br /> WI  (Wattiaux)<br /> Results from our previous research indicated that diet formulation and efficiency of feed conversion can have a profound impact on enteric CH4 and N utilization and thus, the overarching objective of our future research is to further investigate dietary manipulation and cattle genetic selection as management strategies to reduce enteric CH4 emission and potential losses of manure N to the environment. Two studies will measure the impact of forages digestibility and dairy cow feed efficiency on enteric CH4 emission and N utilization. A third study is to validate a novel method to predict enteric CH4 emission rapidly and economically against the current gold standard procedure (emission chambers), which is labor intensive, slow and expensive.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Publications

PUBLICATIONS<br /> <br /> Abi-Ghanem, R., Parker, D., Waskom, R.M., Dobrowolski, J., O'Neill, M., Groffman, P.M., Addy, K., Barber, M., Batie, S., Benham, B., Bianchi, M., Blewett, T., Evenson, C., Farrell-Poe, K., Gardner, C., Graham, W., & Harrison, J.H. (in press). Advancing water resource management in agricultural, rural, and urbanizing watersheds:Why land-grant universities matter. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. <br /> <br /> Aguerre, M. J., M. C. Capozzolo, M. A. Wattiaux, and J. M. Powell. 2011. Effect of Quebracho-Chestnut tannin extracts at two forage levels on dairy cow lactation performance and emission of methane and ammonia. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 94, E-Suppl. 1:608.<br /> <br /> Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, J. M. Powell, G. A. Broderick, and C. Arndt. 2011. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, lactation performance and manure excretion. Journal of Dairy Science 94:3081-3093.<br /> <br /> Aguerre, M. J., J. O. Giordano, A. S. Kalantari, M. A. Wattiaux, P. M. Fricke and V. E. Cabrera. 2012. Impact of dairy herd reproductive performance on predicted economic performance, enteric CH4 emission and excretion of N and P using a Markov-chain model. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 90, E-Suppl. 3/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 95, E-Suppl. 2:90.<br /> <br /> Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, and J. M. Powell. 2012. Emission of ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide during storage of dairy cow manure as affected by dietary forage to concentrate ratio and crust formation. Journal of Dairy Science (In Press).<br /> <br /> Aguerre, M.J., Wattiaux, M.A., Powell, J.M., and Broderick. G.A. 2012. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, lactation performance and manure excretion. J. Dairy Sci. 95: 1-8. doi:10.3168/jds.2010-4011. <br /> <br /> Arndt C., M. A. Wattiaux, J. M. Powell, and M. J. Aguerre. 2011. Effect of air-flow controlled chambers and cows of contrasting feed efficiency on methane emission. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 94, E-Suppl. 1:65.<br /> <br /> Belflower, J.B., J.K. Bernard, D.K. Gattie, D.W. Hancock, L.M. Risse, C.A. Rotz. 2012. A case study of the potential environmental impacts of different dairy production systems in Georgia. Agric. Systems 108:84-93.<br /> <br /> Fortuna, A.M. Honeycutt, C.W., Vandemark, G., Griffin, T.S. Larkin, R.P., He, Z., Wienhold, B.J., Sistani, K.R., Albrecht, S.L., Woodbury, B.L., Torbert, H.A., Powell, J.M.,Hubbard, R.K., Eigenberg, R.A., Wright R.J., Alldredge, J.R.,Harsh, J.B. 2012. Links among nitrification, nitrifier communities and edaphic properties in contrasting soils receiving dairy slurry. J. Environ. Qual. 41:262272.<br /> <br /> Gourley, C.J.P., Aarons, S.A., and Powell, J.M. 2012. Nitrogen use efficiency in grazed and confinement dairy production systems. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 147: 73-81. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2011.05.011.<br /> <br /> Guo, X. S., D. J. Undersander, and D. K. Combs. 2012. Effect of Lactobacillus Inoculants and Forage Dry Matter on the Fermentation and Aerobic Stability of Ensiled Mixed-crop Tall Fescue and Meadow Fescue . J. Dairy Science 95: Accepted.<br /> <br /> Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2012. The role of carbon dioxide in emission of ammonia from manure. Atmos. Environ. xxx:1-9.<br /> <br /> Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2012. A mass transfer model for VOC emission from silage. Atmos. Environ. 54:134-140.<br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., White, R., Ishler, G., Erickson, G., Sutton, A., Applegate, T., Richert, B., Nennich, T., Koeslch, R., Burns, R., Meyer, D., Massey, R., & Carpenter, G. (2012). Implementation of feed management as part of whole farm nutrient management. The Professional Animal Scientist.<br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., White, R., Kincaid, R.L., Block, E., Jenkins, T., & St Pierre, N. (2012). Effectiveness of potassium carbonate sesquihydrate to increase dietary cation-anion. Journal of Dairy Science. 95, 3919-3925.<br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., Whitefield, E.M., & Werkhoven, A. (2012). Partitioning of solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus in solids and liquid fractions of anaerobically digested dairy effluent. Proceeding of American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, Phoenix, AZ. <br /> <br /> Hristov, A.N., M. Hanigan, A. Cole, R. Todd, T.A. McAllister, P.M. Ndegwa, and A. Rotz. 2011. Review: Ammonia emissions from dairy farms and beef feedlots. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91:1-35.<br /> <br /> Jarrett, J., Taylor, M.S., Nennich, T., Knowlton, K., Harrison, J.H., & Block, E. (2012). Effect of stage of lactation and dietary calcium on potassium balance in lactating Holstein cows through twenty weeks of lactation. The Professional Animal Scientist 28, 502-506.<br /> <br /> Lal, R., J.A. Delgado, P.M. Groffman, N. Millar, C. Dell, and A. Rotz. 2011. Management to mitigate and adapt to climate change. J. Soil Water Cons. 66(4):276-285.<br /> Li, C., W. Salas, R. Zhang, C. Krauter, A. Rotz, and F. Mitloehner. 2012. Manure-DNDC: a biogeochemical process model for quantifying greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from livestock manure systems. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosys. DOI 10.1007/s10705-012-9507-z.<br /> <br /> Lopes, F., D. K. Combs, P. C. Hoffman and W. Coblentz. 2012. Assessment of heifer grazing experience on adaptation to pasture and performance as lactating cows . J. Dairy Science 95: Submitted August 2012.<br /> <br /> McGraw, T.N., A. Gahagan, E. Mengis, C. Kliebert, and E. C. Achberger. 2012. Differential Survival of Escherichia coli in the Environment. The LSU Undergraduate Research Conference, Excite/Explore/Experiment.<br /> <br /> McGraw, T.N., A. Gahagan, E. Mengis, C. Kliebert, and E. C. Achberger. 2012. The Differential Survival of Escherichia coli in the Environment. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, San Jose, CA.<br /> <br /> Miller, R., B. Jensen, and L. Trinca. 2012. Effect of grazing on compaction and nitrogen cycling. 2012. In 2012 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, R. Sheffield, K. J. Han, L. K. Zeringue, and C. Leonardi. 2012. Evaluating plant growth on artificial floating islands over two growing seasons  preliminary results. In Proceedings of the 2012 Land Grant and Sea Grant National Water Conference, Portland, OR. (Abstract)<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. Achberger, R. E. Sheffield, L. K. Zeringue, C. Leonardi. 2011. Improving multi-stage wastewater treatment system effectiveness: effect of wetland flow rates. 2011 Louisiana Dairy Report. B. F. Jenny, ed. 39-42.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, R. E. Sheffield, K. J. Han, M. E. McCormick. 2011. Whole-Farm Nutrient Management. 2011 Louisiana Dairy Report. B. F. Jenny, ed. 20-25.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. LeBlanc, E. Achberger, R. Sheffield, K. J. Han, L. K. Zeringue, C. Leonardi. 2011. Improving multi-stage wastewater treatment system effectiveness: Evaluating plant growth on artificial floating islands over two growing seasons  preliminary results. In: Southeast Research Station Field Day Summaries, 2011. LSU AgCenter SERS, Franklinton, LA. 44-48.<br /> <br /> Neibergs, J.S., Harrison, J.H., Whitefield, E.M., & De Hart, M. (2012, March 29). Development and application of an economic anaerobic digester optimization model. Got Manure Conference, Syracuse, NY. <br /> <br /> Page, L., Ni, J., Heber, A.J., Mosier, N.S., Liu, X., Joo, H., Ndegwa, P.M., & Harrison, J.H. 2012. Effect of Anaerobic Digestion on Volatile Fatty Acids in Dairy Manure. ASABE Annual Meeting, paper # 121337674 ASABE National Meeting. <br /> <br /> Percival, B., and R. Miller. 2012. Modification of dynamic chambers to reduce variability. ASABE Presentation No. 121338073. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Aarons, S.A, and Gourley, C.J.P. Determinations of feed-milk-manure relationships on grazing-based dairy farms. Animal. 6(10):1702-1710. doi: 10.1017/S1751731112000511.<br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Aguerre, M.J., and Wattiaux, M.A. 2011. Dietary crude protein and tannin impact dairy manure chemistry and ammonia emissions from soils. J. Environ. Qual. 40:1767-74. doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0085. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Aguerre, M.J., and Wattiaux, M.A. 2011. Tannin extracts abate ammonia emission from simulated dairy barn floors. J. Environ. Qual. 40: 907-914. doi:10.2134/jeq2010.0492. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. and Broderick, G.A. 2011. Transdisciplinary soil science research: Impacts of dairy nutrition on manure chemistry and the environment. Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. J. 75:2071-2078. doi:10.2136/sssaj2011.0226. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Wattiaux, M.A., and Broderick, G.A. 2011. Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a management tool to reduce ammonia emissions from dairy farms. J. Dairy Sci. 94:46904694. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-4476. <br /> <br /> Risse, L.M., J.B. Belflower, C. A. Rotz, B. Kiepper, and J.K. Bernard. 2011. A case study comparing the environmental impacts of grazing and confined dairies. Proc. Southeast Dairy Management Conf. November 1-2, Tifton, GA.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A., D.S. Chianese, F. Montes, and S. Hafner. 2011. The Dairy Greenhouse Gas Model: Reference Manual, version 1.0. Available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/19020000/DairyGEMReferenceManual.pdf.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A. 2012. Grazing: the whole picture, Is grazing good, or bad, for the environment? Hoards Dairyman 157:10.<br /> <br /> Saunders, O.E., Fortuna, A., Harrison, J.H., Cogger, C.G., Whitefield, E.M., Kennedy, A.C., & Bary, A.I. (2012). Comparison of raw dairy manure slurry and anaerobically digested slurry as N sources for grass forage production. International Journal of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Saunders, O.E., Fortuna, A., Cogger, C.G., Harrison, J.H., Whitefield, E.M., & Green, T. (2012). Use of manure management technology and microbial processes to mitigate gaseous nitrogen losses from soil. Environmental Science & Technology. <br /> <br /> Sun, F., Harrison, J.H., Ndegwa, P.M., & Joo, H. (2012). Effect of manure source on ammonia emission on first day of application. Proceedings of American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting of American Dairy Science Association, Phoenix, AZ.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., M. Tuller, R. Miller, and S. Jones. 2012. Temporal variations in greenhouse gas emissions from dairy and beef manure. 2012 Spring Runoff Conference. Logan, UT: utah State University.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., R. Miller, S. Bialkowski, M. Tuller, and S. Jones. 2012. A multiplexing system for monitoring greenhouse and regulated gas emissions from manure sources using a portable FTIR gas analyzer. ASABE Paper & Presentation No. 121337982. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. <br /> <br /> Watson, A.K., Erickson, G., Klopfenstein, T.J., Koeslch, R., Massey, R., Harrison, J.H., & Luebbe, M.K. (2012). BFNMP$: A tool for estimating feedlot manure economics. J An Sci abstracts , 90(2), pp 236P. Midwest ASAS Meeting. J An Sci. <br /> <br />

Impact Statements

1. LA (Moreira) - Preliminary findings resulting from the increase in anaerobic lagoon area coverage with floating islands from 6.9 to 13.8% indicate that second year water quality characteristics are not reaching abatements similar to those obtained during the first year for most characteristics. On the positive side, nitrate concentration remains high with added island coverage (13.8% coverage), indicating potential for denitrification at the last treatment stage.
2. KY (Kusunose) - Manure does not necessarily have to be recycled in the form of fertilizer/soil amendments; for example, there are on-going efforts to turn manure into energy sources. Such alternative manure products may face lower transaction costs and negate the need for product information. A collection of case studies will document current research and efforts to recycle manure, either as a fertilizer/soil amendment or in other forms. Such an effort will aid in identifying commonalities of successful initiatives.
3. MA (Herbert) - Nitrogen management of farm fields is of increasing importance as the price of nitrogen fertilizer rises and the negative effects of ammonia become better recognized. The time of manure application and the method of manure incorporation into the soil influences both ammonia volatilization and the amount of nitrogen available to crops. The Cover Crop Planting tool allows provision of site-specific information to farmers for planting decisions. The nutrient flow assessment will be useful in assessing loading and attenuation levels at a broader watershed scale.
4. UT (Miller) - Tannins are present in some forages such as birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Tannins can also be added to the drinking water. Tannins have the potential to improve N utilization in the animal, and shift excreted nitrogen from the urine to the feces, thereby reducing some of the environmental impacts of grazing systems.
5. WA (Harrison) - Anaerobically digested manure was shown to have equal fertilizer value to non-AD manure when applied at equal rates of total N.
6. WI (Powell) - Although results of the tannin extract research are encouraging, larger scale and longer term field trials are needed to ascertain the effectiveness of feeding tannin extracts to dairy cows in abating NH3 loss from barns and land-applied slurry, and the impact of tannin-containing slurry on soil N cycles. Results of this study may help create new awareness, and perhaps industry-based incentives, for management practices that enhance feed N use efficiency and reduce MUN, UUN and NH3 emissions from dairy farms.
7. WI (Wattiaux) - Each of the reported experiments contributed to our ability to control the biological processes involved in the formation (i.e., synthesis) and emission of the gases of interest. Our work has suggested that diet formulation, forage quality and cattle selection have great potential to impact CH4 emission and efficiency in N utilization.

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Report Information

Participants

Present in KY;
Yoko Kusunose;
Rhonda Miller;
Mike Westendorf;
Vinicius Moreira;
Rich Muck;
Joe Harrison;
Santiago Utsumi;
Stephen Herbert

Connecting by adobe;
Al Rotz;
Steve Smith;
John Westra;
Brian Rude

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Rotz<br /> <p><b>Modeling VOC Emissions:</b> Refinement and evaluation of our VOC emission model for manure and silage sources continued throughout the year. Working VOC emission components were incorporated in both the Integrated Farm System Model and the Dairy Gas Emission Model. The model predicts reasonable emission levels, and management changes cause reasonable changes in emissions. A formal evaluation of these components is planned, but we are waiting for data that is now being collected on California dairy farms by our collaborators at UC Davis. <br /> <br /> <p><b>Environmental Footprints of Beef Production Systems:</b> A methodology was developed and used to determine environmental footprints of beef cattle produced at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska with the goal of quantifying improvements achieved over the past 40 years. Information for MARC operations was gathered and used to establish parameters representing their production system with the Integrated Farm System Model. The MARC farm, cow calf, and feedlot operations were each simulated over recent historical weather to evaluate performance, environmental impact, and economics. The current farm operation included 841 ha of alfalfa and 1,160 ha of corn to produce feed predominately for the beef herd of 5,500 cows, 1,180 replacement cattle, and 3,724 cattle finished per year. Spring and fall cow calf herds were fed on 9,713 ha of pastureland supplemented through the winter with hay and silage produced by the farm operation. Feedlot cattle were backgrounded for 3 mo on hay and silage with some grain and finished over 7 mo on a diet high in corn and wet distillers grain. For weather year 2011, simulated feed production and use, energy use, and production costs were within 1% of actual records. A 25-year simulation of their current production system gave an average annual carbon footprint of 10.9±0.6 kg of CO2 equivalent units per kg BW sold, and the energy required to produce that beef (energy footprint) was 26.5±4.5 MJ/kg BW. The annual water required (water footprint) was 21,300±5,600 liter/kg BW sold, and the water footprint excluding precipitation was 2,790±910 liter/kg BW. The simulated annual cost of producing their beef was $2.11±0.05/kg BW. Simulation of the production practices of 2005 indicated that the inclusion of distiller’s grain in animal diets has had a relatively small effect on environmental footprints except that reactive nitrogen loss has increased 10%. Compared to 1970, the carbon footprint of the beef produced has decreased 6% with no change in the energy footprint, a 3% reduction in the reactive nitrogen footprint, and a 6% reduction in the real cost of production. The water footprint, excluding precipitation, has increased 42% due to greater use of irrigated corn production. This proven methodology provides a means for developing the production data needed to support regional and national full life cycle assessments of the sustainability of beef.<br /> <br /> <p><b>IFSM and DairyGEM:</b> The Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) and the Dairy Gas Emissions Model (DairyGEM) provide software tools that illustrate the complexity and many interactions among the physical and biological components of farms. Refinement and expansion of both tools continued throughout the year. New versions of each have been completed that estimate reactive VOC emissions from manure and silage sources on farms. This software is available through Internet download for use in individual, workshop and classroom education. <br /> <p>Kusunose<br /> <p>Examples of current efforts to convert manure and manure derivatives into marketable resources were presented at the annual meeting (Oct 30-31, 2013 in Lexington, KY). These included two case studies: The production and marketing of struvite by MultiForm Harvest, based in Seattle Washington, and the sale of pelletized chicken manure by Perdue AgriCycle. These examples were then framed in the context of a decision-making model on the part of producers: Unless marketing costs (transport, verification of product and process, developing and reaching markets) are low, or the value of the final product high (e.g. high-end NOP-certified gardening products), producers will be unable to market their manure (and manure derivatives) and choose to over-apply to their fields (and face fines) or incur expenses to dispose of manure in acceptable ways. <br /> <p>Usefulness of Findings<br /> <p>Three major challenges in converting animal waste to into marketable resources are transporting the product, verifying and conveying its properties to potential buyers, and finding consumers. Animal waste, or even composted animal waste, is bulky, heavy, oftentimes liquid, and has relatively low market value relative to its transportation cost. Moreover, finding consumers and conveying the physical product and its properties to them require expertise and economies of scale that many producers of animal waste do not have. <br /> <p>These two case studies show how these challenges may be addressed. In the case of MultiForm Harvest, the company equipment leases to producers of animal (and human) waste the technology that converts it into struvite, a uniform, easily transported product with known properties. These producers then ship the struvite to MultiForm Harvest, which packages and markets struvite to end-users. Because MultiForm Harvest deals with multiple producers, it has economies of scale. In the case of Perdue AgriCycle, Perdue provides cleaning-out services of poultry houses, collects the chicken litter and processes it in a way that the end product (pelletized chicken manure) is uniform, easy to use, and has verified properties. They currently market their product to gardeners. <br /> <p>In both cases, the manure was converted into a new product with known or verifiable properties, thereby addressing the ‘information problem,’ and the new product was marketed by an entity that aggregated the product (or raw material) from multiple sources, thereby addressing the ‘marketing cost problem.’ By examining such commercial ventures in the private sector, we can glean lessons that will apply to waste-marketing efforts on the part of public or semi-public (e.g. cooperatives) entities. <br /> <p>WA – Harrison <br /> <p>A three-year study was conducted to study the interactive effect of anaerobic digestion (AD), large particle solids, and a manure additive MTMTM on ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG; carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane) emissions when manure/manure effluent was surface applied. The presence of large particle solids resulted in greater NH3 emissions due to the reduced infiltration of liquid manure into soil (P < 0.05). Anaerobic digestion did not have a consistent effect on NH3 emission. Manure effluent with greater ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) concentrations achieved significantly greater NH3 loss after manure application (P < 0.05). Anaerobic digestion of manure effluent did not have a significant effect on GHG flux (P > 0.05). Treatment with large particle solids in raw manure had significant greater CO2 flux than the other raw manure treatments on the day of manure application (P < 0.05). There was no significant manure treatment effects (P > 0.2) on methane flux over the three-day period after manure application. The manure additive MTMTM did not have a significant effect (P > 0.05) on NH3 and GHG fluxes. The results of this study suggest that solids and AN concentrations in manure/manure effluent are the most important factors affecting NH3 emissions after surface application.<br /> <br /> <p>The effect of anaerobic digestion (AD), large particle solids, and a manure additive MTMTM on ammonia (NH3) emission from dairy manure/manure effluent were studied during 110 d of storage. The study consisted of eight treatments in duplicate: AD manure effluent and Non AD manure, with and without large particle solids, and with and without MTMTM. This study was conducted in a naturally ventilated barn. The nitrogen content of manure, especially the ammonical nitrogen played an important role in NH3 emission. During the first 11 weeks of the storage, AD manure effluent emitted significantly greater average (26 to 22 ppm) and peak (38 to 33 ppm) concentrations of NH3 and NH3 fluxes (130 to 94 ?g•min-1•m-2 ) when compared to raw manure treatments (11 to 9 ppm, 25 to 14 ppm, 81 to 55 ?g•min-1•m-2 , respectively). From the 11th week until the end of storage, there was no significant difference in NH3 emissions across the manure treatments. The presence of large particle solids on manure surface resulted in significantly lower NH3 emissions when data was evaluated for the whole storage period. The manure additive MTMTM, crust formation and temperature did not have a significant effect on NH3 emissions during storage. Total ammoniacal nitrogen and solids concentration in manure were the most important factors affecting NH3 emissions during storage.<br /> <br /> <p>The Feed Nutrient Management Planning Economics Tool (FNMP$) will be refined to include the following: a) addition of dairy manure handling systems that include liquid-solids separation, sand bedding and sand separation; b) more accurate estimates of nutrient and solids flows and transformations in beef feedlot systems; c) feed management factors into tool function that can affect nutrient losses; d) adding additional crops, nutrients, and revised nutrient estimates; e) adding micronutrients such as magnesium, sulfur, and others that create added value for off farm transport; f) effect of rainfall and on-farm water management on manure volume; g) multiple cropping systems on a given field within a year ; h) varied Field by field management with respect to P or N nutrient management planning; i) an irrigation option; j) updated equipment prices; k) providing a version of the tool on-line for remote use, l) adding file sharing and storage options, and m) modifying options for off farm transport, haul only cost versus haul and spread.<br /> <br /> <p>The FNMP$ tool is being prepared as an on-line based tool that can be accessed by users at a central website. This will allow for easier access to the tool and provide a more stable environment for making updates and upgrades.<br /> <br /> <p>Usefulness of findings<br /> <br /> <p>During 110 d of storage of AD and non-AD manure, <br /> The major factors affecting the volatile loss of NH3 on the day of manure application was the NH4 content and solids content of the manure. AD manure did not necessarily have a greater loss of NH3.<br />

Publications

1. Li, C., W. Salas, R. Zhang, C. Krauter, A. Rotz, and F. Mitloehner. 2012. Manure-DNDC: a biogeochemical process model for quantifying greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from livestock manure systems. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosys. 93:163-200. <br /> <p>2. Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2012. A mass transfer model for VOC emission from silage. Atmos. Environ. 54:134-140. <br /> <p>3. Robertson, G.P., T.W. Bruulsema, R.J. Gehl, D. Kanter, D.L. Mauzerall, C.A. Rotz, and C.O. Williams. 2012. Nitrogen–climate interactions in US agriculture. Biogeochemistry. DOI 10.1007/s10533-012-9802-4. <br /> <p>4. Stackhouse-Lawson, K.R., C. A. Rotz, J. W. Oltjen, and F. M. Mitloehner. 2012. Carbon footprint and ammonia emissions of California beef production systems. J. Anim. Sci. 90:4641-4655. <br /> <p>5. Stackhouse-Lawson, K.R., C.A. Rotz, J.W. Oltjen, and F.M. Mitloehner. 2012. Growth-promoting technologies decrease the carbon footprint, ammonia emissions, and costs of California beef production systems. J. Anim. Sci. 90:4656-4665. <br /> <p>6. Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2013. The role of carbon dioxide in emission of ammonia from manure. Atmos. Environ. 66:63-71. <br /> <p>7. Gerber, P.J., A.N. Hristov, B. Henderson, H. Makkar, J. Oh, C. Lee, R. Meinen, F. Montes, T. Ott, J. Firkins, A. Rotz, C. Dell, A.T. Adesogan, W.Z. Yang, J.M. Tricarico, E. Kebreab, G. Waghorn, J. Dijkstra and S. Oosting. 2013. Technical options for the mitigation of direct methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock: a review. Animal 7:s2, pp 220–234.<br /> <p>8. Del Prado, A., P. Crosson, J.E. Olesen and C.A. Rotz. 2013. Whole-farm models to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and their potential use for linking climate change mitigation and adaptation in temperate grassland ruminant-based farming systems. Animal 7:s2, pp 373–385. <br /> <p>9. Hafner, S.D., C. Howard, R.E. Muck, R.B. Franco, F. Montes, P.G. Green, F. Mitloehner, S.L. Trabue, C.A. Rotz. 2013. Emission of volatile organic compounds from silage: compounds, sources, and implications. Atmos. Environ. 77:827-839.<br /> <p>10. Rotz, C.A., B.J. Isenberg, K.R. Stackhouse-Lawson, and J. Pollak. 2013. A simulation-based approach for evaluating and comparing the environmental footprints of beef production systems. J. Animal Sci. (in press).<br /> <p>11. Rotz, C.A., F. Montes, S.D. Hafner, A.J. Heber, R.H. Grant. 2013. Ammonia emission model for whole farm evaluation of dairy production systems. J. Environ. Quality. (in press).<br /> <p>12. Hristov, A.N., J. Oh, C. Lee, R. Meinen, F. Montes, T. Ott, J. Firkins, A. Rotz, C. Dell, A. Adesogan, W. Yang, J. Tricarico, E. Kebreab, G. Waghorn, J. Dijkstra & S. Oosting. 2013. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock production – A review of technical options for non-CO2 emissions. Edited by Pierre J. Gerber, Benjamin Henderson and Harinder P.S. Makkar. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 177. FAO, Rome, Italy. <br /> <p>13. Rotz, C.A. and T. L. Veith. 2013. Integration of air and water quality issues, Chapter 10. In Kebreab, E. (ed). Sustainable Animal Agriculture. CAB International. Oxfordshire, UK. (in press)<br /> <p>14. Sørensen, C.G., S.G. Sommer, D. Bochtis, and A. Rotz. 2013. Technologies and Logistics for Handling, Transport and Distribution of Animal Manures. In Sommer, S.G., M.L. <br /> <p>15. Parker, D., Waskom, R.M., Dobrowolski, J., O'Neill, M., Groffman, P.M., Addy, K., Barber, M., Batie, S., Benham, B., Bianchi, M., Blewett, T., Evenson, C., Farrell-Poe, K., Gardner, C., Graham, W., & Harrison, J.H. (2013). Advancing water resource management in agricultural, rural, and urbanizing watersheds: Why land-grant universities matter. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 68, 337-348.<br /> <p>16. Harrison, J.H. (2013). Nutrient Management, Environmental Issues and Societal Issues Affecting Confinement Dairy Sustainability. , 96(E-Suppl. 1), pp 708. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN. <br /> <p>17. Sun, F., Harrison, J.H., Ndegwa, P.M., Joo, H., Whitefield, E.M., & Johnson, K.A. (2013). Ammonia Emissions from Eight Types of Dairy Manure During Storage. Poster presentation at Waste to Worth Conference, Denver, CO. <br /> <p>18. Neerackal, G.M., Joo, H., Wang, X., Ndegwa, P.M., Harrison, J.H., Heber, A.J., & Ni, J. (2013). Impacts of Anaerobic Digestion and Solids Separation on Ammonia Emissions from Stored Dairy Manure. ASABE Annual Conference Proceedings. ASABE 2013 Annual International Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri. <br /> <p>19. Wang, X., Joo, H., Neerackal, G.M., Ndegwa, P.M., Harrison, J.H., Heber, A.J., & Ni, J. (2013). Effects of Anaerobic Digestion and Application Methods on Ammonia Emission from Land Applied Dairy Manure. ASABE Annual Conference Proceedings. ASABE National International Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri.<br /> <p>20. Koirala, K., Joo, H.S., Frear, C.S., Harrison, J.H., Stockle, C.O., & Ndegwa, P.M. (2013). Influence of Suspended Solids Characteristics on Ammonia Volatilization Mechanism from Liquid Dairy Manure. ASABE Annual Conference Proceedings. 2013 ASABE Annual International Conference, Kansas City, Missouri. <br /> <p>21. Koirala, K., Joo, H.S., Ndegwa, P.M., Frear, C.S., Stockle, C.O., & Harrison, J.H. (2013). Influence of Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Manure on Ammonia Volatilization Mechanism. ASABE Annual Conference Proceedings. <br /> <p>22. Joo, H.S., Ndegwa, P.M., Neerackal, G.M., Wang, X., Harrison, J.H., & Neibergs, J.S. (2013). Mitigation of Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide, and Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Naturally Ventilated Dairy Barns. ASABE Annual Conference Proceedings. 2013 ASABE Annual International Conference, Kansas City, Missouri. <br /> <p>23. Joo, H.S., Ndegwa, P.M., Harrison, J.H., Whitefield, E.M., Heber, A., & Ni, J.-. (2013). Potential air quality impacts of anaerobic digestion of dairy manure. From Waste to Worth: "Spreading" Science and Solutions -, Denver, Colorado. <br /> <p>24. Watson, A.K., Erickson, G., Klopfenstein, T., Koelsch, R., Massey, R., Harrison, J.H., & Luebbe, M.K. (2013). BFNMP$: A tool for estimating feedlot manure economics. Proceedings of Waste to Worth Conference. Denver, Colorado. <br />

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Present at meeting;
Joe Harrison (Washington State Univ.);
Stephen Herbert (Univ. Mass);
Mark Powell (USDA-ARS, US Dairy Forage Res Center, Madison WI);
Santiago Utsumi (Michigan State Univ.);
Paul Greenway (Michigan State Univ.)

Via conference call;
Rhonda Miller (Utah State Univ.);
Vinicius Moreira (Louisiana State Univ.);
Adel Shirmohammadi (Project Advisor, Maryland Agric. Exp. Station);
Steve Smith (NIFA Program Leader)

Brief Summary of Minutes

NE-1044 2015 Annual Meeting Notes

Kellogg Biological Station

Hickory Corners, Michigan

April 14

Welcome and review of agenda by Santiago Utsumi

Tasks at hand by Joe Harrison (Chair NE1044)

Secretary for meeting: Mark Powell (filling in for Mike Westendorf)

Station reports

Powell

1) Feed-milk-manure N relationships in global dairy production systems

2) Feed and manure use in low-N-input and high-N-input dairy cattle production systems

3) Measures of nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen loss from dairy production systems

4) Potential use of milk urea nitrogen to abate atmospheric N emissions from dairy farms

5) Transformation of N in dairy feed components into milk, manure and environmental N loss

6) Update on gaseous emission from barnyards

Utsumi

1) Feeding and grazing management (urine positive, negative effects on soil pH and N)

2) Rumination patterns and methane production by dairy cows in a pasture-based automatic milking system

3) Approaches to grazing and net feed efficiency

4) Production efficiency and impacts of dairy cows in pasture-based automatic milking system

5) Acoustics of bites and chew-bites by grazing cows

Vinicius Moreiria

1) Floating islands on wastewater treatment systems to abate GHG emissions

Joe Harrison

1) Effects of raw vs anaerobically digested manure, injected vs broadcast on corn silage – winter wheat

2) Effect of manure treatment on ammonia and GHG emissions following surface application

3) Effect of manure treatment on ammonia emissions during storage under ambient conditions

4) Feed nutrient management planning economics (under development)

April 15

Completion of Station Reports

Herbert

1) Cover crops, manure application and ammonia emissions

2) Education center

Visited Robotic Milking Center at Kellogg Biological Station

Discussions Related to Rewrite

Received documents from Rubie Mize (NERA, USDA-BARC) to guide Request to Write

See filename 'RequestToWriteInstructions (e-mail from Rubie Mize).pdf'

See filename 'NE1044RequestToWriteForm.pdf'

We worked on 'The Request to Write' addressing the following issues: the need, as indicated by stakeholders; the importance of the work, and what the consequences are if it is not done; the technical feasibility of the research; the advantages for doing the work as a multistate effort; and what the likely impacts will be from successfully completing the work.

We also had discussions related to ‘Who will move NE1044 forward? Who are the young players that will move this forward?’ Rewrite to cover the next 5 years, many people in the group have either retired recently or plan to retire within the next 2-3 years.

'The Request to Write' was finalized and submitted on-line.

Elections – Mike Westendorf as chair, Santiago Utsumi as secretary

Meeting location – to be hosted by Mike Westendorf - October 19-21 in Woodstown, NJ - Salem County, NJ

Meeting adjourned Wednesday 4:30pm

Accomplishments

<b>Short term outcomes</b><br /> <p>Research to evaluate the comparative attributes of grazing, organic, and conventional management systems focused on profitability and stewardship. <br>Meadow fescue or tall fescue silage was fed in combination with alfalfa and corn silage to evaluate the effects on milk production and the potential to reduce sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in lactating dairy cows. This data indicates that high quality meadow and tall fescue silages can be fed to high producing dairy cows without a decrease in fat corrected milk production. <p>Another study examined the impact of grazing experiences early in life on grazing behavior and performance of lactating dairy heifers in a 3-year study. GPS units were utilized to monitor cow movement. Those with no previous grazing experience tended to move around very little when grazing. Milk production was lowest initially for cows with no previous grazing experience. Results indicate that previous grazing experience can impact behavior and milk production during the first 3 days on pasture. After this time, experienced and inexperienced cattle presented a similar grazing behaviors and performance.<br /> <p>We evaluated partially replacing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage and corn (Zea mays L.) silage with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) silage, meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds) silage, or wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) to test the hypothesis that the energy from non-fibrous carbohydrates can be partially replaced by the energy from digestible fiber without reducing DMI or milk production in total mixed rations (TMR) for dairy cows. Forty eight lactating dairy were fed one of four treatment diets in a 98 d study. The four treatment rations consisted of an alfalfa silage and corn silage-based TMR formulated for a low neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content 25%, and three TMRs formulated for 28% NDF where tall fescue silage, meadow fescue silage, or wheat straw partially replaced alfalfa and corn silages. The in vitro and in situ NDF digestibility of tall and meadow fescue silages were equal to or greater than the alfalfa silage and greater than the corn silage and wheat straw. The total tract NDF digestibility was highest for cows consuming the grass diets. Organic matter digestibility was higher when cows ate tall fescue than wheat straw or did not receive supplemental fiber. No differences in DMI (26.0 kg/d) or 3.5% fat-corrected milk production (41.9 kg/d) were found between treatment diets, although higher milk yield and lower milk fat (% and yield) were observed for cows that did not have supplemental fiber in their diets. These results indicate that highly digestible fiber from grass silages can partially replace non-fibrous carbohydrates without reducing DMI and FCM production. <br /> <br /> <p>A preliminary analysis of the current production system of the Meat Animal Research Center shows that the carbon footprint of the beef produced is 11 lb of carbon dioxide equivalent units per lb of live weight sold. This carbon footprint is a little lower than most previously published values. The energy required to produce that beef (energy footprint) is 11,150 Btu/lb of live weight sold. The total water required (water footprint) is 2,550 gallon/lb of live weight, and the water footprint excluding that obtained through precipitation is 340 gallon/lb of live weight sold. The simulated total cost of producing their beef was about $1.00/lb of live weight sold, which agrees with their production records. Simulations are being developed for 2005 and 1970 to determine if the environmental footprints have improved over time.<br /> <br /> <p>Nutrient transformation in manure was evaluated with anaerobic digestion and method of application of dairy manure. A three year agronomic plot study was completed that evaluated the nitrogen use efficiency of undigested and anaerobically digested dairy manure. AD and non-AD manure support equal grass production when applied at equal amounts of total N. Anaerobically digested dairy slurry was shown to provide adequate soil fertility and N availability for crop uptake and forage production over the three field seasons.<br /> <br /> <p>A three-year study was conducted to study the interactive effect of anaerobic digestion (AD), large particle solids, and a manure additive MTMTM on ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gas (GHG; carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane) emissions when manure/manure effluent was surface applied. The presence of large particle solids resulted in greater NH3 emissions due to the reduced infiltration of liquid manure into soil (P < 0.05).<br /> <br /> <p>Data collected on nutrient partitioning after liquid-solids separation indicates a range: in solids separation of 13 to 25 %, in N separation of 4.3 to 12.9 %, and in P separation of 9.2 to 21.5 %. The EYS screw system resulted in greater removal of solids, N and P, but was observed to require greater maintenance and had a lower liquid throughput rate. The overall observation of significance is that the majority (>75%) of solids and nutrients reside with the liquid fraction.<br /> <br /> <p>Feeding tannin extract and less crude protein (CP) to dairy cows may have synergistic impacts on reducing urinary N excretion and NH3 emissions from dairy barns and land applied manure. Holstein dairy cows were fed four levels (g kg-1) of dietary tannin extract (mixture from red quebracho and chestnut trees): 0 (0T), 4.5 (LT), 9.0 (MT) and 18.0 (HT); each fed at two levels (g kg-1) of dietary CP: 155 (LCP) and 168 (HCP). The addition of tannin extracts to the diets did not significantly impact animal performance but increased feed N use efficiency and decreased N excretion in urine. Reductions in NH3 emission from simulated barn floors due to tannin feeding were greatest when tannin was fed at LCP: the LCP-LT and LCP-HT treatments emitted 30.6% less NH3 than LCP-0T; and the HCP-LT and HCP-HT treatments emitted 16.3% less NH3 than HCP-0T. Feeding tannin extract decreased urease activity in feces resulting in 11.5% reduction in NH3 loss. The application of tannin directly to simulated barn floor also reduced NH3 emissions by 19.0%. Tannin did not significantly impact NH3 emissions from soils. But emissions from the HCP slurry were 1.53 to 2.57 times greater than from the LCP slurry. At trial’s end concentrations of soil inorganic N were greater in HCP slurry-amended soils than in LCP slurry-amended soils. Emissions from the sandy loam soil were 1.07 to 1.15 times greater than from silt loam soil, a result which decreased soil inorganic N in the sandy loam compared to the silt loam soil.<br /> <br /> <p><b>Outputs: Defined products</b><br /> <br>Cover crops utilize 40-50% more N if the cover crop is planted by Sept 1 vs Sept 15. This can be related to the GDD needed. The Cover Crop Planting tool is currently operational on the web as Cover Crop Planting DSS (Decision Support System) at http://aqua1.eco.umass.edu/cropDSS/cdss.html/ for Massachusetts.<br /> Dairy Gas Emission Model (DairyGEM) calculates ammonia and hydrogen sulfide volatilization, GHG emissions, and carbon footprint. There are 100-150 types of VOCs from silage. Modeling of VOC Emissions, silage and manure are important sources of VOC emissions in dairy and beef production. A model for predicting silage emissions was revised and a new component model was developed to predict emissions from manure sources.<br /> <p>These new components were incorporated and tested in our Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) and Dairy Gas Emission Model (DairyGEM) where they will be used to evaluate strategies for mitigating VOC production. Environmental Footprints of Beef Production Systems: The environmental footprints of the beef produced at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska were determined through a simulation study.<br /> <p>The Feed Nutrient Management Planning Economics Tool (FNMP$) was refined to include the following: a) addition of dairy manure handling systems that include liquid-solids separation, sand bedding and sand separation; b) more accurate estimates of nutrient and solids flows and transformations in beef feedlot systems; c) feed management factors into tool function that can affect nutrient losses; d) added additional crops, nutrients, and revised nutrient estimates; e) updated equipment prices; and f) providing a version of the tool on-line for remote use. <br /> <p><b>Activities – NA</b><br /> <p><b>Milestones - NA</b><br />

Publications

Temu, V., B. J. Rude, and B. S. Baldwin. 2014. Nutritive value response of native warm-season forage grasses to harvest intervals and durations in mixed stands. Plants. 2014 3:266-283.<br /> <br /> Temu, V., B. J. Rude, and B. S. Baldwin. 2014. Yield response of native warm-season forage grasses to harvest intervals and durations in mixed stands. Agronomy. 2014 4:90-107.<br /> <br /> Smith, D., T. Smith, B. J. Rude, and S. H. Ward. 2013. Short Communication: Comparison of the effects of heat stress on milk and component yields and somatic cell count in Holstein and Jersey cows. J. Dairy Sci. 96:3028-3033.<br /> <br /> Frahm, A. J., S. H. Ward, A. Brown-Johnson, D. L. Sparks, J. M. Martin, B. J. Rude, and R. Meiring. 2012. Case Study: Comparison of fatty acid content in homogenized and nonhomogenized milk from Holstein and Jersey cows. Prof. Anim. Sci. 28:689-693.<br /> <br /> C. Arndt, J. M. Powell, M. J. Aguerre, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2015. Performance, digestion, nitrogen balance, and emission of manure ammonia, enteric methane, and carbon dioxide in lactating cows fed diets with varying alfalfa silage-to-corn silage ratios. J. Dairy Sci. 98 :418–430.<br /> <br /> C. Arndt,* J. M. Powell,† M. J. Aguerre,* P. M. Crump,‡ and M. A. Wattiaux. 2015. Feed conversion efficiency in dairy cows: Repeatability, variation in digestion and metabolism of energy and nitrogen, and ruminal methanogens. J. Dairy Sci. 98:3938–3950.<br /> <br /> Westendorf, M.L., J. E. Wohlt, C. J. Sniffen, and R. T. Ward. 2014. Nutrient Content of Brewers Grains Produced at a Commercial Brewery: Variation in Protein/Nitrogen, Fiber, Carbohydrate, Fat, and Minerals. Prof. Anim. Sci. 30:400-406.<br /> <br /> Noviandi, C. T., J.-S. Eun, M. D. Peel, B. L. Waldron, B. R. Min, D. R. ZoBell, and R. L. Miller. 2014. Effects of energy supplementation in pasture forages on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics in continuous cultures. The Professional Animal Scientist TBC. 30:23-32.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., R. Miller, M. Tuller, and S. B. Jones. 2014. Cumulative evaporation from surface-applied manure using a closed dynamic chamber technique. 2014 Spring Runoff Conference. Logan, UT: Utah State University.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., R. Miller, M. Tuller, and S. B. Jones. 2014. Simulation of greenhouse gas emissions after land application of cattle manure. In 2014 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Bingham, T. J., B. L. Waldron, E. Creech, D. ZoBell, and R. L. Miller. 2013. Plant and animal performance in grass/legume pastures. Western Society of Crop Science 2013 Annual Meeting. Available at: https://www.crops.org/files/membership/branches/western/wscs-meeting-schedule-2013.pdf<br /> <br /> Miller, R., P. Sutitarnnontr, E. Hu, M. Tuller, J. Walworth, S. B. Jones. 2013. Best management practices for reducing gas emissions from manure application in semi-arid regions. eXtension Waste to Worth “Spreading” Science and Solutions 2013 Paper & Presentation No. 67662. Available at: http://www.extension.org/pages/67662/best-management-practices-for-reducing-gas-emissions-from-manure-application-in-semi-arid-regions#.Un23vZEqY8M<br /> <br /> Murdock, S. (undergraduate student), M. Jensen, and R. Miller. 2013. Impact of compaction on ammonia losses from urine deposition. In 2013 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., E. Hu, R. Miller, M. Tuller, S. B. Jones. 2013. Drying and rewetting effects on gas emissions from dairy manure in semi-arid regions. eXtension Waste to Worth “Spreading” Science and Solutions 2013 Paper & Presentation No. 67670. Available at: http://www.extension.org/pages/67670/drying-and-rewetting-effects-on-gas-emissions-from-dairy-manure-in-semi-arid-regions/print/#.Un22XJEqY8M<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., E. Hu, R. Miller, M. Tuller, and S. B. Jones. 2013. Measurement accuracy of a multiplexed portable FTIR – surface chamber system for estimating gas emissions. ASABE Paper & Presentation No. 131620669. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.<br /> <br /> Miller. R., B. Jensen (undergraduate student), and L. Trinca. 2012. Effect of grazing on compaction and nitrogen cycling. In 2012 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr P., M. Tuller, R. Miller, and S.B. Jones. 2012. Monitoring Temporal Variations in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cow Manure in Relation to Moisture Content and Temperature. In 2012 SSSA Abstracts. Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America.<br /> <br /> Sutitarnnontr, P., M. Tuller, R. Miller, and S. 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Rotz, J. Dillon, R. Stout and K. Stackhouse-Lawson. 2015. Management characteristics of cow-calf, stocker, and finishing operations in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Prof. Anim. Scientist 31:1-10.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A., S. Asem-Hiablie, J. Dillon and H. Bonifacio. 2015. Cradle-to-farm gate environmental footprints of beef cattle production in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. J. Anim. Sci. 93:2509-2519. <br /> <br /> Bonifacio, H.F., C.A. Rotz, A.B. Leytem, H.M. Waldrip, and RW. Todd. 2015. Process-based Modeling of Ammonia and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Open Lot Beef and Dairy Facilities. Trans. ASABE (in press).<br /> <br /> Watt, L., C. E. F. Clark, G. L. Krebs, C. E. Petzel, S. Nielsen and S. A. Utsumi. (Accepted). Differential rumination, intake and enteric methane production of dairy cows in a pasture-based automatic milking system. J Dairy Sci<br /> <br /> Page, L., Ni, J., Heber, A.J., Mosier, N.S., Liu, X., Joo, H., & Harrison, J.H. (2014). 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Impact Statements

1. Outcomes from the past 5 years of this project have provided new insights into various aspects of forage utilization, feed management, manure and pathogens, green-house gas emission, and carbon footrprints. Specific examples are:
2. A project examined the impact of manure pH and temperature treatment and the effect on pathogens (Salmonella Newport and E. Coli 157). Both pathogens can survive after manure excretion, and in soil for over 450 days. Under low pH (3.6 and 4.2) pathogens lived only about one week. Lived longer with a pH of 4.5 and higher. Unamended manure has a pH of 7.3. Newport died when the pH was increased to 11. At 42 degrees C both pathogens lived ~350 days, at 22 degrees C lived ~55 days.
3. Carbon footprint of milk produced was similar for the pasture-based dairy and the confinement dairy. Carbon sequestration of the pasture-based system was slightly lower than that of the confinement dairy.
4. A series of videos were developed for small livestock farms and nutrient mgt videos can be found at http://njaes.rugters.edu/animal-waste-management/videos.asp
5. The environmental footprints of the beef produced at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska were determined through a simulation study. Relevant information for their operation was gathered and used to establish parameters to represent their beef production system with IFSM. Model simulated predictions agreed well with actual records for feed production and use, energy use and production costs in 2011.
6. A three year agronomic plot study was completed that evaluated the nitrogen use efficiency of undigested and anaerobically digested dairy manure. AD and non-AD manure support equal grass production when applied at equal amounts of total N. Anaerobically digested dairy slurry was shown to provide adequate soil fertility and N availability for crop uptake and forage production over the three field seasons.
7. Experiments were conducted to evaluate possible mitigation strategies to reduce gaseous emissions from dairy farms. In trial 1 (Aguerre et al. 2010c; Aguerre et al. 2011a), increasing the proportion of forage in the diet from 47 to 68% while maintaining dietary CP, increased CH4 emission per unit of milk by 25% but did not alter NH3 emission or milk production. In a follow-up study (Trial 2; Aguerre et al. 2012a), the pattern of change in volatile C loss (CO2 and CH4,) and volatile N loss (NH3 and N2O) during a 77-day storage period was determined using the manure collected from cows in the companion study (Trial 1).
8. Dietary treatments had no effect on emission rates. However when a crust formed after 28 days of storage, NH3 emission became negligible. In addition to its physical effects, the crust may have provided a growth environment for bacterial species that use NH3 and CH4 as substrate, reducing emission of these compounds, but promoting the production and emission of N2O and CO2, respectively.
9. In trial 3 (Arndt et al. 2010ab), alfalfa silage (AS) and corn silage (CS) were fed at 20:80, 40:60, 60:40 and 80:20 ratio, in a 55:45 forage to concentrate ratio diet. Varying the AS:CS ratio had no effect on NH3 emission. Although greatest CH4 emission was observed at ratio of 40:60, primary forage did not affect CH4 emission per unit of milk. Feeding tannins at a level that does not compromise animal performance might be used to reduce urinary N and therefore NH3 emissions.
10. Data from a lactation study (Trial 4; Aguerre et al., 2010ab) suggested that incorporating tannin in the diet at 1.8% DM at two dietary CP levels (15.5 vs. 16.8 %DM), did not alter manure N but increased fecal N and reduced urine N, with limited impact on animal performance. Manure from cows fed 1.8% tannin and 15.5 or 16.8% dietary CP, emitted 30.5 and 16.3% less NH3 than no tannin diet, respectively (Powell et al. 2011).
11. On a follow up study (Trial 5; Aguerre et al., 2011b), our objective was to determine the effects of a tannin extract on lactating cow performance and emission of CH4 and NH3, and whether any responses were affected by dietary forage to concentrate ratio. Adding tannin to the diet at a 0.45% inclusion rate (DM basis) had negative effects on performance and increased CH4 emission per unit of ECM by 8% but had no effect on manure NH3 emission, regardless of the dietary content of forage.
12. The objective of Trial 6 (Arndt et al., 2011) was to determine whether CH4 emission is lower for high feed efficient (kilograms of milk/kilograms of dry matter intake; HE) compared with low feed efficient (LE) lactating dairy cows. High compared to low feed efficiency was associated with lower CH4 emission (grams) per kilogram of milk (16.0 vs. 23.7 g/kg).
13. The Cover Crop Planting tool is currently operational on the web as Cover Crop Planting DSS (Decision Support System) at http://aqua1.eco.umass.edu/cropDSS/cdss.html/ for Massachusetts
14. The MARC farm, cow calf, and feedlot operations were each simulated over recent historical weather to evaluate performance, environmental impact, and economics. The current farm operation included 841 ha of alfalfa and 1,160 ha of corn to produce feed predominately for the beef herd of 5,500 cows, 1,180 replacement cattle, and 3,724 cattle finished per year. Spring and fall cow calf herds were fed on 9,713 ha of pastureland supplemented through the winter with hay and silage produced by the farm operation.
15. Feedlot cattle were backgrounded for 3 mo on hay and silage with some grain and finished over 7 mo on a diet high in corn and wet distillers grain. For weather year 2011, simulated feed production and use, energy use, and production costs were within 1% of actual records. A 25-year simulation of their current production system gave an average annual carbon footprint of 10.9±0.6 kg of CO2 equivalent units per kg BW sold, and the energy required to produce that beef (energy footprint) was 26.5±4.5 MJ/kg BW.
16. The annual water required (water footprint) was 21,300±5,600 liter/kg BW sold, and the water footprint excluding precipitation was 2,790±910 liter/kg BW. The simulated annual cost of producing their beef was $2.11±0.05/kg BW. Simulation of the production practices of 2005 indicated that the inclusion of distiller?s grain in animal diets has had a relatively small effect on environmental footprints except that reactive nitrogen loss has increased 10%.
17. Compared to 1970, the carbon footprint of the beef produced has decreased 6% with no change in the energy footprint, a 3% reduction in the reactive nitrogen footprint, and a 6% reduction in the real cost of production. The water footprint, excluding precipitation, has increased 42% due to greater use of irrigated corn production. This proven methodology provides a means for developing the production data needed to support regional and national full life cycle assessments of the sustainability of beef.

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