Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/17/2006] [04/18/2007] [12/12/2007] [12/10/2008] [11/19/2009] [01/04/2011]

Report Information

Participants

David Combs (dkcomb@facstaff.wisc.edu) Univ. of Wisconsin;
Gary Cromwell (gcromwel@uky.edu) USDA-CSREES Liaison, Univ of Kentucky;
Mike Gamroth (mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu ) Oregon State University;
Joe Harrison harrison@puyallup.wsu.edu) Washington State Univ.;
Stephen Herbert (sherbert@pssci.umass.edu) Mass, Amherst;
Katharine Knowlton (kknowlto@vt.edu) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University;
K. Marie Krause (Karen.Krause@mail.wvu.edu)West Virginia University;
Vinicius Moreira (vmoreira@agcenter.lsu.edu) Lousiana State Univ.;
Rick Muck (remuck@facstaff.wisc.edu) USDA, ARS, Madison, WI;
Rhonda Miller (rlmiller@cc.usu.edu) Utah State Univ.;
Michael Murphy (mrmurphy@uiuc.edu) Univ. Illinois;
Mark Powell (jmpowel2@facstaff.wisc.edu) USDA-ARS/Wisconsin;
Timothy Randhir (randhir@forwild.umass.edu) University of Massachusetts;
Alan Rotz (alrotz@psu.edu) USDA-ARS/Pennsylvania;
Paul Wangsness (pjw2@psu.edu) Administrative Advisor, Penn State Univ.;
Michel Wattiaux (Wattiaux@facstaff.wisc.edu) University of Wisconsin;
John Westra (jwestra@lsu.edu) Louisiana State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes of the 2005 Annual Meeting can be found at: http://cahpwww.vet.upenn.edu/nerp132/minutes/minutes2006.html

Accomplishments

The accomplishments of this multistate project have been summarized in the Annual Report available at http://cahpwww.vet.upenn.edu/nerp132/reports/report2006.html

Publications

The resulting publications of this work are summarized by state in the Annual Report at http://cahpwww.vet.upenn.edu/nerp132/reports/report2006.html as well as in CRIS at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov

Impact Statements

1. The impacts of this multistate project have been listed, by state, in the Usefulness of Results/Findings sections in the Annual Report available at http://cahpwww.vet.upenn.edu/nerp132/reports/report2006.html

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Report Information

Participants

David Combs (dkcomb@facstaff.wisc.edu) University of Wisconsin;
Troy Downing (troy.downing@oregonstate.edu) Oregon State University;
Mike Gamroth (mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu ) Oregon State University;
Joe Harrison harrison@puyallup.wsu.edu) Washington State University;
Stephen Herbert (sherbert@pssci.umass.edu) University of Mass, Amherst;
Katharine Knowlton, Secretary (kknowlto@vt.edu) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University;
Rick Kohn (rkohn@wam.umd.edu) University of Maryland, College Park;
Rhonda Miller (rlmiller@cc.usu.edu) Utah State University;
Vinicius R. Moreira, Chairperson (vmoreira@agcenter.lsu.edu) Lousiana State University;
Rick Muck (remuck@facstaff.wisc.edu) USDA, ARS, Madison, WI;
Michael Murphy (mrmurphy@uiuc.edu) University of Illinois;
Paul Wangsness, Admin Advisor (pjw2@psu.edu) Penn State University;
Gary Cromwell, USDA-CSREES Liasion (gcromwel@uky.edu) University of Kentucky

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes of the January 2007 Annual Meeting can be found at: http://ne1024.dyndns.org/minutes/minutes2007.html

Accomplishments

The accomplishments of this multistate project have been summarized in the Annual Report available at http://ne1024.dyndns.org/reports/report2006.html

Publications

The resulting publications of this work are summarized by state in the Annual Report at The resulting publications of this work are summarized by state in the Annual Report at http://ne1024.dyndns.org/reports/report2006.html as well as in CRIS at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov

Impact Statements

1. The impacts of this multistate project have been listed, by state, in the Usefulness of Results/Findings sections in the Annual Report available at http://ne1024.dyndns.org/reports/report2006.html

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Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Accomplishments are included in the "Copy of Minutes" document linked above.

Publications

The resulting publications of this work are summarized in CRIS at http://cris.csrees.usda.gov

Impact Statements

1. Impact Statements are included in the "Copy of Minutes" document linked above.

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Report Information

Participants

Joe Harrison, Washington State University
Rhonda Miller, Utah State University
Dick Hegg, CSREES liaison
Mark Powell, U.S. Forage Research Center
Vinicius, Moreira, Louisiana State University
John Westra, Louisiana State University
Michel Wattiaux, University of Wisconsin (for David Combs)
Mike Westendorf, Rutgers University
Zhengxia Dou, University of Pennsylvania
Mike Murphy, University of Illinois
Rich Muck, U.S. Forage Research Center
Stephen Herbert, University of Mass.
Al Rotz, ARS, Penn State University
Jon Waith, administrative advisor, University of New Hampshire
Troy Downing, Oregon State University
Mike Gamroth, Oregon State University

Guests: Andrew Sandeen, Washington State Dairy Federation and Mark Wustenburg, Tillamook County Creamery Association

Brief Summary of Minutes

NE 1024 Meeting Minutes
10/27 & 10/28 2008
Tillamook, Oregon

Meeting began at 1:30 PM 10/27/08

Attending: Joe Harrison, Rhonda Miller, Dick Hegg, Mark Powell, Vinicius, Moreira, Michel Wattiaux, Mike Westendorf, Zhengxia Dou, Mike Murphy, Rich Muck, Stephen Herbert, Al Rotz, Jon Waith, Troy Downing, John Westra

Guests: Andrew Sandeen, Mark Wustenburg

First presentation:

Mark Wustenburg Tillamook Creamery - Farmers coop started in 1909 120 coop members membership is limited to North Coast of OR  2 manufacturing facilities, 50 million pounds of cheese at Tillamook - 100 million pounds processed into cheese in eastern OR, 2/3 of which is from non-members  20,000 acres of tillable land, cool season grasses, high rainfall ~ 80 inches, graze March thru November, foster a higher level of Jersey milk due to need for cheese production - ~ 40 % Jerseys. Don't do a full pasteurization (thermalization), thus need to age cheese for 60 days, average dairy is 220 cows, 26,000 to 28,000 cows in Tillamook area, milk quality - 130,000 to 140,000 SCC in milk, environmental issues are significant consideration due to flood plain and coastal location, air quality concerns have been stimulated by larger eastern facilities, 60% of producers are > 65 yrs in age, larger scale pasture operations are difficult to implement, feed import into the area (from off-farm) is probably 75% for lactating cows, generally excess P in manure for crop production, all dairies are environmentally permitted.

Second presentation -

Al Rotz - Green house gases and carbon footprint

Ammonia emissions, green house gases, and carbon footprint has been the focus for the past 2 years

Seems to be a trend for increased GHGs in recent decades and associated with animal ag
GHGs - Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide

Processed based model of sources and sinks
Carbon fixed in pant, soil respiration, plant respiration, engine exhaust, animal respiration, manure on bran floor, and manure handling

Methane emissions - enteric fermentation, manure on barn floor, manure storage, following manure application, feces from grazing

Nitrous oxide - nitrification and denitrification, manure on barn floor and manure storage

Secondary emissions - fuel, electricity, machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, seed, plastic

Carbon footprint - sum of all GHGs per unit of production, include primary and secondary emissions

Google - Dairy GHG, on Al's website

DAFAGEM demonstrated
For forages, on an inventory basis vs predicted as is done on IFSM
Assume that farm is not sequestering carbon
COMET-VR model of NRCS can be used for carbon sequestering

No econ numbers in GHG model

Production of cull cows (beef - meat) is not currently accounted for in calculations

IFSM update

Version 3.0 is about ready for release
This version will have a GHG table

State Reports

WA - Harrison - K work, AD nutrients and pathogens, manure application and shallow ground water, effect of tillage

WI - Powell - manure N capture and recycling
Forage tannin impact
Ammonia emissions
Australia sabattic - accounting of nutrients on grazing dairies

Rhonda Miller - Nutrient cycling in management intensive grazing systems
Uneven distribution of nutrients, Deferred grazing and potential negative impacts on environment

Michel Wattiaux - WI - Effect of diet CP on ammonia emissions
Greater manure excretion when alfalfa silage was fed compared to corn silage
Use of straw in manure storage will reduce ammonia emission

N-Cycles software - collaboration with Canada
- N and P
- allows for optimizing based on soil nutrients

Rich Muck - WI - Obj 1 - protein breakdown during ensiling, use of red clover, polyphenol oxidase enzyme, form quinones which inhibit protein breakdown, now have genetically modified alfalfa for test tube studies, now looking for grasses that have both PPO and substrates

Effect of silage inoculants on animal performance, have used rumen in vitro methods, see the 3-5% animal improvement even when there are no silage fermentation effects

Effect of silo type, bunker, bag, oxygen-limiting tower

Vinicius Moreria - LA - Dairy wastewater treatment system evaluation, multi-stage parlor wastewater treatment system,

Anaerobic, aerobic lagoons, and constructed wetland

Then evaluated a 2 stage system vs 3 stage, eliminate the aerobic lagoon
3 stage system better at removing nitrogen and e-coli, fingerprinting demonstrated that e-coli in wetlands was from pigs and not cows

Mike Westendorf - NJ - 90 dairies in NJ, lots of other livestock farms, developed nutrient management plan development software for small farms,

Dou - PA - P form in dairy feces

Pathogen survival - Salmonella Newport, E Coli 0157
Composting kills both within a day or so

Integrated Management Program - NRCS CIG - Chesapeake Bay project
Is there a best combo of home grown forages for a given farm

International Chinese collaboration to strengthening relationship with Chinese dairy industry

Mike Murphy - IL - Distillers grains work, separate DDGS and partition into different fractions, more and less fibrous fractions based on an air-gravity technique

Stephen Herbert - AM - Systems approach for producers, cover crops, importance of fall planting date in capture of nitrate nitrogen, corn hybrid selection  early and late hybrids, pasture emphasis - what types of grass varieties are best in any given species, have evaluated the use of no till corn and then graze it.

John Westra - Econ at LA - collaborates with Vinicius

Admin Report - Dick Hegg

National Institute of Food and Agriculture to replace CSREES
Head will be an upper level political appointee, may have a better voice for food and ag

Jon Waith - NH - Next year it would be time to begin rewrite

How do we approach the re-write: need clarification of what is expected by review panel, does it have to center around IFSM, how different does it need to be,

Next years meeting, should we meet with 1032 and 1025 in St Louis next September?????? - No

Last Project rewrite -
1. Enhance systems
Increase efficiency
Decrease excretion
2. Enhance systems for reduced &&.. loss to Environment
3. Models - refinement and proofing, including profitability
4. Outreach tools

Ideas for next proposal -
1)Temperate beef, Utah and MA - Grazing systems, Pasture based
2) Gaseous emissions, Green house gases, volatiles
3) Regional drivers of changes in the dairy industry in the future, what parts of the system should we focus on if we took an efficiency emphasis
4) Maybe efficiency focus needs to be viewed differently, not at cow level, but at farm scale
5) Use model as a tool to look at &&&&&&..
6) Decision aid tools that are at a partial system (partial budget) scale
7) Organic dairy production
8) Pathogens and pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors
9) comparative evaluation of different regional dairy systems (economic, environmental, housing)
10) Maximizing home grown feed, carrying capacity

Meeting focus - Rewrite project
Meeting location - October 2009
Avoid early November (ASA) meetings
Should we invite stakeholders? - NE pasture consortium, NRCS, EPA, NMPF,

Secretary for 2009 - Mike Westendorf
Chair - Joe Harrison

Accomplishments

Objective 1, Section 1a. Nutrient uptake and nutritional value of crops. <br /> <br /> A study was initiated in the fall of 2004 to look at the relationship between dairy manure application to a grass field and nitrates in ground-water. Data indicated an initial increase in soil nitrate and shallow ground water nitrate associated with soil tillage. The 1-ft soil nitrate levels ranged from ~ 5 to 60 ppm and varied by year. Grass nitrogen yields ranged from ~ 159 to 209 kg per growing season. Shallow ground water nitrate increased in the first 5 months (Feb 05) to ~ 30 mg/liter, and decreased steadily to less than 10 mg/liter beginning in March 07. Managing the organic nitrogen in soil appears to play a major role in the concentrations of nitrate in shallow ground water.<br /> <br /> The focus of other research was on understanding how bacterial silage inoculants affect in vitro ruminal fermentation with the goal of discovering good hypotheses why silage inoculants improve rate of gain in growing cattle and milk production in lactating cattle. Analyses of silages produced in 2007 progressed but still are not complete. Preliminary results show some differences in amino acid composition of the soluble non-protein fraction of the silages. Larger grass plots were established to test the polyphenol oxidase system to protect protein during ensiling of grasses at pilot-scale.<br /> <br /> A process to remove P from liquid dairy manure was refined from manure after anaerobic digestion treatment. Results indicate that as much as 80% of P can be removed. Struvite (mg-N-P) that has been extracted from liquid dairy manure was shown to be a good source of nutrients for growth of corn and alfalfa.<br /> <br /> Section 1b. Herd Nutrient Utilization Strategies<br /> <br /> This trial compared milk yields of cows grazing either a perennial pasture type (kura clover/reed canary grass, (KRC)), or a short lived annual pasture (white clover/Italian ryegrass, WRG)) when managed by management intensive grazing. Twenty eight primiparous Holstein cows (89 DIM and, 535 kg BW), were randomly assigned to one of four-2.4 hectare paddocks. Two of the pastures were established with kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb, cv. Endura.) and low alkaloid reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L, cv.Palaton) in 1999. The KRC pastures contained approximately 50% reed canarygrass and 50% kura clover at initiation of this experiment in 2007. The other two pastures were seeded in the spring of 2007 with a mixture of white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv Kopu II) and Italian Ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. Multiflorum, cv Feast II). All pastures were managed to offer cows approximately 30 kg of forage DM per day. The daily grazing area was estimated according to the pasture availability and the number of cows in each paddock. Cows were allowed to graze approximately 20 h/d and were milked twice daily. Supplemental concentrate was provided daily after each milking (7.2 kg/cow/d). Pastures were initially stocked with 7 cows per paddock, but as the summer progressed and pasture growth declined, cows from each of the paddocks were removed to keep pasture availability constant and assure adequate supply of pasture. Pasture intake was estimated by difference in yield estimates from pasture quadrats clipped at a 5 cm stubble height before and after grazing. Pastures quality was high throughout the trial (41 +/- 1.6%, NDF, and 18 +/- 0.5%, CP). Milk yield/cow/d tended lower for JH than H (27.0, 29.8 kg/d, respectively p < 0.07) and 3.5% FCM was lower for JH than H ( 28.0, 30.0 kg/d respectively, p < 0.01). Milk fat percentage was similar for JH and H (3.6+/- 0.1%). Fat corrected milk yield by paddock was higher for H than JH (1349, 1187 kg 3.5%FCM/paddock/week respectively, p<0.05). Pasture DMI did not differ by breed (1133 kg DM/paddock/d). Grazing Holstein primiparous cows produced more milk from high quality pasture than Jersey-Holstein crossbreds. Breed had did not affect pasture intake, the advantage was due to higher production per cow of the Holsteins than the Jersey-Holstein crossbreds.<br /> <br /> Previous attempts to correlate near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) spectral data with in vitro NDF digestibility (ivNDFD) measures have yielded mixed results. The ability of NIRS to predict a nutrient parameter highly depends on the precision of the laboratory technique used as a reference procedure. The objective of this study was to determine if acceptable NIRS calibration equations for 24, 30, and 48 h NDF digestion measurements could be developed from a more precise in vitro NDF digestibility reference procedure. A set of 122 grasses and legumes were digested in vitro using the Goeser et al. (2008) ivNDFD technique. Three replications, with duplicate subsamples within replicate, were completed for each forage and time point combination. Following ivNDFD analysis, ground forage samples were scanned on a near-infrared reflectance spectrophotometer and spectral data was related to 24, 30, and 48 h NDF digestibility (NDFD, % of NDF) and digestible NDF (dNDF, % of DM) measurements as well as NDF (% of DM). Calibrations were computed using partial least squares regression techniques and calibration performance was evaluated based on the coefficient of determination (R2), the standard error of calibration (SEC), the standard error of cross validation (SECV), and 1 minus the variance ratio (1-VR). The R2, SEC, and SECV values of 48 h NDFD calibration indicated improved precision relative to prior research and no comparison could be made for earlier time points. The R2, SEC, and SECV values of dNDF calibrations were also improved relative to prior research. In conclusion, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy spectral data was successfully related to in vitro NDFD and dNDF data, with greater precision than observed previously. The universal calibration equations developed are capable of precisely predicting 24, 30, and 48 h ivNDFD rapidly for a broad range of grass and legume samples. <br /> <br /> We are conducting animal work to refine the P requirements of lactating cows, growing heifers, and pre-weaned calves. In the first study, we published a peer reviewed paper on the results of a project focused on early lactation cows, evaluating the impact of dietary Ca on bone P resorption and replenishment throughout lactation. Methods used include total collection, bone biopsy, and monitoring serum markers of bone resorption and formation. We found that, contrary to our expectations, dietary Ca concentration had no effect on P retention or bone metabolism. However, first lactation cows had more active bone metabolism through the 140 d study. There was a switch from net bone resorption to formation after 35 d of lactation regardless of dietary Ca concentration. This information will help refine dietary mineral recommendations for dairy cows and ultimately reduce P excretion into the environment. Second, we are continuing our work on nutrient excretion and efficiency of nutrient utilization by growing heifers. We published the results of recent work on the effect of dietary forage content and byproduct utilization in bred heifers. We use total collection to monitor effects of treatment. Heifers limit-fed the low forage ration excreted three times as much urine and more total manure compared to those fed high forage and by-product rations. Excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus were not affected by diet. The current ASABE beef equations that predict manure DM excretion rather than wet manure excretion were better predictors of manure excretion observed in this study than were the dairy equations. <br /> <br /> We also completed research evaluating the effect of varying milk replacers in pre-weaned calves and published this paper. We found that calves fed a standard milk replacer ate more grain than heifers fed more nutrient-dense diets, but had poorest gain and greatest feces excretion. Addition of protein to standard milk replacer improved calf growth and nutrient retention; few additional benefits were observed with added fat. Compared to predicted values for mature cows, we calculate that 12,000 to 17,000 heifers would produce quantities of manure or manure nutrients similar to a concentrated animal feeding unit of 700 mature dairy cows. <br /> <br /> Finally, we continue work implementing intensive feed management practices on collaborator farms in Virginia, to improve whole farm nutrient balance. We are focused on practices such as improved forage quality, more frequent feed analysis, implementation of feed mixing and delivery tracking software, and reduced overfeeding. As part of this project, we are implementing an incentive payment program to reduce overfeeding of dietary P, with 200 farms enrolled in the project. OF farms completing 12 months of sampling, about half earned incentive payments because their dietary P approached targets. 69 farms have received a total of $90,000 in incentive payments to date.<br /> <br /> Comparison of P forms in feces of two dairy farms feeding different amount of P<br /> Fecal samples were obtained from two commercial dairy farms. Farm 1 had 283 milk cows producing 69 lb milk/c/d with diet P concentration of 0.50%; Farm 2 had 93 cows producing 69.3 lb milk/c/d with diet P concentration of 0.37%. <br /> <br /> Conventional fecal analysis results: (i) fecal total P concentration was 11.30 g/kg for farm 1 and 4.17 g/kg for farm 2. (ii) fecal water soluble P was 3.98 g/kg on farm 1 and 1.46 g/kg on farm 2. <br /> <br /> Comparison of P extractability (or recovery) by different extractants: Water extracted 35% of the total P, an acid extractant 100 mM Na acetate, pH 5.0 plus 20 mg Na dithionite/ml had a recovery of 84-100%, an alkaline extractant 0.025 M NaOH with 50 mM EDTA had a recovery of 80-100%.<br /> <br /> Liquid state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR) results: (i) Water is not an effective extractant as several important P forms (phosphonate, IHP i.e., phytic acid, pyrophosphate, and polyphosphate) were missing in water extracts of samples from both farms. (ii) The slightly acid extractant NaAc performed equally well or even better than the traditional NaOH+EDTA extractant. Numerically, the amounts of orthophosphate, IHP, diesters, and polyphosphate were similar in the two extracts, whereas NaAc extracts had higher amounts of other monoesters and pyrophosphate as compared to the NaOH+EDTA extracts. (iii) Both NaAc and NaOH appeared to cause degradation of DNA and other diesters as there were greater amounts of these P compounds in the water extracts. (iv) The vast majority of total P in dairy feces existed as orthophosphate. Furthermore, orthophosphate accounted for a higher proportion of total P in the sample from Farm 1 (82 and 85%) than Farm 2 (64 and 72%). <br /> <br /> Objective 2: Evaluate and develop efficient animal, manure, and cropping systems for reduced nutrient flow, cycling, transformation and loss to the environment.<br /> One project evaluated pollutant abatement effectiveness of replacing second stage aerobic lagoon with smaller constructed wetlands. The Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System is a three-stage system composed of ANL, AEL, and three WLDs, replicated. The system was used to simultaneously compare and quantify treatment effectiveness of a control, three-stage system (ANL, AEL, WLDs) with a two-stage treatment (ANL, WLDs). Wastewater COD, solids, nutrients (TKN, TP), and coliforms were monitored at all stages in the system for 6 months. Treatment was applied 3 months to each replicate while the counterpart was maintained as control in a cross-over design. Statistical comparison was made among WLD effluents in different systems. Small difference in pollutant abatement between idle AELs and AELs continually receiving ANL effluent is attributed to the effectiveness of AELs in the complete system. Most treatment efficacies were significantly reduced when AELs were bypassed. The two stage system (ANL-WLD) performed at 65% of the control system (ANL-AEL-WLD). Constructed wetlands combined surface area represented 41% of the AELs. ANL-fed WLDs resulted in approximately 40% of the treatment efficacies of AEL, ranging from 1% for TKN to 49% for COD. Nitrogen removal was limited by decay of organic matter accumulated in WLDs receiving ANL effluent.<br /> A review of nutrient management tools for confinement and grazing-based dairy operations was completed. Generally, these tools quantify nutrient imports and exports at the farm scale, nutrient flows and use efficiencies at the component scale (i.e. feed, milk, manure, land-application, plant uptake) and soil fertility status and nutrient loss at the field or paddock scale. There is further scope to improve nutrient management tools so that they not only quantify nutrient balances on dairy farms, but also assist in identifying opportunities for enhanced nutrient use within farm components, and reduced nutrient losses.<br /> <br /> A study was conducted at the Pioneer system research farm, University of Wisconsin, Platteville. The 78-cow lactating herd was divided in two groups, each being allocated to either a recommended diet with 16.7 ± 1.3 % CP (DM basis) or an excess CP diet containing 1.5 units of CP above the REC diet (18.2 ± 1.5%). Total manure collection from each group was conducted by manual scrapping in seven months between February 2004 and January 2005. Manure samples collected at different time points were analyzed for N content. Monthly samples of all diet ingredients and milk were collected and analyzed for N content and milk urea nitrogen (MUN). Dry matter intake and milk yield was recorded to estimate N balance for each group of cows. Ammonia-N emission was estimated for each group of cows for each monthly sampling period by N mass balance (Nin  Nout) of the pen where they were allocated with the following equation: NH3-N emission = intake N + bedding N  milk N  scrapped manure N. Using the above equation, NH3-N emission was estimated assuming that other volatile N compounds were a negligible fraction of the total volatilized N during manure collection. Feeding excess dietary CP did not affect dry matter intake, milk production or milk composition. Wet manure excretion was higher when corn silage became unavailable and alfalfa silage was the only forage source in the diet (75 vs. 87kg/d per cow, respectively). On average NH3-N loss was 110 g/d per lactating cow, but ranged from 64 g/d to 178 g/d with no clear seasonal pattern. Milk urea nitrogen was weakly related with NH3-N volatilization; however there was a strong linear association between MUN, manure N excretion and dietary CP. By decreasing 1.5 unit of CP in the diet (16.5 to 18.0% of diet DM), we observed a 27% reduction in NH3-N emission (93 vs. 127 g/d per cow).<br /> <br /> A study in Utah examined nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in both a traditional management intensive grazing system, and in a deferred grazing system. To replicate a system producers would use for maximum forage production, tall fescue was planted in the fall of 2005. The paddocks were in the establishment phase during 2006. In 2006, after the grass was growing well, soil cores measuring 38.1 cm in diameter and 111.8 cm in length were extracted using PVC pipe and a hollow-core drill. The soil cores were utilized to make zero-tension lysimeters which were then placed back in the ground. The top 40 cm of the PVC pipe was removed to allow for as much unrestricted plant growth as possible. Leachate is collected bi-weekly and analyzed for nitrate nitrogen. Data collection began in June 2007. Beginning in 2008, ammonia emission measurements were collected after each grazing event using dynamic chambers. <br /> <br /> We are expanding our research focused on implementing advanced wastewater treatment techniques on dairy farms to generate designer manures targeted to better meet crop nutrient needs. Approaches used include enhanced biological P removal (EBPR), struvite crystallization, and deammonification (nitritation coupled with denitrification), in combination with physical and chemical nutrient removal systems. We are achieving significant ammonia removal in our deammonification reactors, and significant P removal in our EBPR reactors. We evaluated combinations of polymers with aluminum sulfate, alumninum chloride, ferric chloride or ferric sulfate for their effectiveness in removing P from dairy manure. We achieved greater than 90% P removal in research scale reactors, and 80% removal of P in a full scale test with a combination of aluminum chloride and a high molecular weight polymer. We have published the results of our work with chemical treatment of manure, and have papers reporting on EBPR and deammonification in review.<br /> <br /> We have completed and published work evaluating the relative risk of P losses from fescue pasture following application of manures (dairy slurry, swine slurry, beef solids, and poultry litter) or commercial fertilizer. We found that cropland-derived coefficients in the Virginia P Index are generally appropriate for pasture in soils typical of the Shenandoah Valley, but reduction in their magnitude and a differentiation between liquid and solid manures may be warranted. In more complex process-based models, inclusion of season and rainfall duration may be appropriate, to reflect the greater runoff risk during longer rain events and from wet fields early after manure application.<br /> <br /> Objective 2, Section 2 b. Information. <br /> <br /> An NRCS CIG grant was awarded to a team of land grant universities and lead by WSU to develop the infrastructure to implement the Feed Management 592 practice standard for NRCS. Tools in the form of assessment tools, checklists, and a feed management template were developed for the species of beef, dairy, swine, and poultry. Training workshops have been held for both nutritionists and technical service providers (nutrient management planners).<br /> <br /> Objective 3, Refine, evaluate, and apply integrated quantitative models of dairy and beef farms to predict profitability and nutrient losses to the environment.<br /> Ammonia Emissions Model: Ammonia emissions from animal feeding operations are an important concern due to their potential adverse effects on animal and human health and the environment. Emissions occur from manure surfaces on the barn floor, during storage, and following field application. Based upon theoretical principles and associated published information on ammonia emission, relationships were refined for modeling the dissociation constant, Henrys law constant and mass transfer coefficient to better predict ammonia loss from manure surfaces. Theoretical inconsistencies in widely used expressions for the dissociation constant and mass transfer coefficient were observed. Refined expressions were developed that relate these parameters to the temperature, pH, and ionic strength of the ammonium containing material, and the velocity of air flowing over the material. These expressions were tested by comparing predicted ammonia emission rates against values measured in controlled laboratory experiments for buffered ammonium-water solutions and dairy cattle manure. Experimental results compared well to values predicted using these theoretical expressions derived from ammonia volatilization literature. These process-level relationships provide a basis for developing predictive tools that quantify management effects on ammonia emissions from farms and thus assist in the development and evaluation of strategies for reducing emissions.<br /> <br /> Greenhouse Gas Emissions Model: Concern over greenhouse gas emissions and their potential impact on global climate has grown rapidly in the US over the past couple years. Livestock agriculture is recognized as an important emitter of these gases, but little quantitative data exist on emission rate and the effect of management on these emissions. Simple process-level relationships were integrated in the development of a comprehensive model for predicting all important sinks and emission sources to determine a whole-farm carbon balance and an estimate of the net farm emission of greenhouse gas. Relationships were used to track carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide flows during crop production, from the animals and from manure on the barn floor, during storage and following land application. These relationships were added to the Integrated Farm system Model to predict net greenhouse gas emissions along with nitrogen and phosphorus losses and the overall performance and economics of farm production systems. <br /> <br /> Dairy Greenhouse Gas Model: The Dairy Greenhouse Gas Model (DairyGHG) was developed to provide an easy to use software tool that estimates total net greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of a dairy production system. DairyGHG uses a relatively simple process-based model to predict the primary GHG emissions from the production system, which include the net emission of carbon dioxide plus all emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Emissions are predicted through a daily simulation of feed use and manure handling where daily values of each gas are summed to obtain annual values. A carbon footprint is then calculated as the sum of both primary and secondary emissions in CO2 equivalent units divided by the milk produced. Secondary emissions are those occurring during the production of resources used including machinery, fuel, electricity, fertilizer, pesticides, and plastic. DairyGHG is available for download from our Internet site (http://ars.usda.gov/naa/pswmru). The model includes a fully integrated help system with a reference manual that documents the relationships used to predict emissions.<br />

Publications

Arogo Ogejo, J., K. Gungor, Z. Wen, Z. Hu, T. Yao, N. G. Love, and K. F. Knowlton. 2007. Recovery of phosphorus from dairy manure as struvite. Virginia Techs Deans Forum on the Environment. Blacksburg, VA. February 26, 2007, poster presentation.<br /> <br /> Beck, J. L., K. Gilmore, N. G. Love, K. F. Knowlton, and J. A. Ogejo. 2007. Nitrogen removal from dairy waste using deammonification fueled by fermented dairy manure. Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibit and Conference (WEFTEC). October 13-17. San Diego, CA.<br /> <br /> Beck, J. L., N. G. Love, K. F. Knowlton, and J. A. Ogejo. 2007. Nitrogen removal from dairy waste using deammonification fueled by fermented dairy manure. ASABE AIM Tech Session SE-24, Mini-Symposium: Ag Waste Management and Land Application of Waste to Address Environmental Concerns. June 17-20. Minneapolis, MN.<br /> <br /> Beck, J., K. R. Gilmore, K. F. Knowlton, J. Arogo Ogejo, and N. G. Love. 2007. Nitrogen removal from dairy waste using deammonification fueled by fermented dairy manure. Virginia Techs Deans Forum on the Environment. Blacksburg, VA. February 26, 2007, poster presentation.<br /> <br /> Bendfeldt, E., K. F. Knowlton, T. Denckla Cobb, F. Dukes, K. Holm, and J. Arogo-Ogejo. 2008. The Waste Solutions Forum: An innovative and cooperative approach to support the agricultural community and protect water quality. Comm. Dev. 38: 85-93. <br /> <br /> Chaoui, H., F. Montes, C.A. Rotz and T.L. Richard. 2008. Dissociation and mass transfer coefficients for ammonia volatilization models. ASABE Paper No. 083802, St. Joseph, MI: ASABE.<br /> <br /> Chen, S., Harrison, J.H., & Zhang, T. (2008). Nutrient Extraction from Liquid Dairy Manure as a Co-product. Conservation Innovation Grant Showcase Soil and Water Conservation Society Meeting, Tucson, AZ. <br /> <br /> Chianese, D.S., C.A. Rotz and T.L. Richard. 2008. Simulating methane emissions from dairy farms. ASABE Paper No. 084098, St. Joseph, MI: ASABE. <br /> <br /> Cox, B. G., R. E. James, K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, and C. C. Stallings. 2007. Producer perceptions of feed management software. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1):64.<br /> <br /> Cox, B. G., R. E. James, K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, and C. C. Stallings. 2007. Impact of feed management software on whole farm nutrient balance and feeding management. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1):123. 1st place presentation in Southern Regional ADSA Production Division graduate student competition.<br /> <br /> Daniels, K. M., S. R. Hill, K. F. Kno: wlton, R. E. James, M. L. McGilliard, and R. M. Akers. 2008. Effects of milk replacer composition on selected blood metabolites and hormones in pre-weaned Holstein heifers J. Dairy Sci. 91: 2628-2640.<br /> <br /> Daniels, K. M., S. R. Hill, K. F. Knowlton, R. E. James, R. E. Pearson, M. L. McGilliard and R. M. Akers. 2007. Effects of milk replacer composition on selected blood metabolites and hormones in pre-weaned Holstein heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1):84-85.<br /> <br /> Davidson, D., & Harrison, J.H. (2008). Cooling of Dairy Plate Cooler Water Prior to Entry Into Surface Water  Two Case Studies. Proceedings of CSREES Water Quality Annual Meeting CSREES, Reno, NV. <br /> <br /> DeBusk, J. A., J. A. Ogejo, K. F. Knowlton, and N. G. Love. 2008. Effect of aeration time on nitrification in separated liquid dairy manure. Biosystems Eng. (in review).<br /> <br /> DeBusk, J. A., J. Arogo, K. F. Knowlton, and N. G. Love. 2008. Chemical phosphorus removal for separated flushed dairy manure. Appl. Eng. in Agric. 24: 499-506.<br /> <br /> DeBusk, J., J. Arogo Ogejo, N. G. Love, and K. F. Knowlton. 2007. Adjusting N:P ratios in liquid dairy manure through nitrification and chemical phosphorus removal to match crop fertilizer requirements. Virginia Techs Deans Forum on the Environment. Blacksburg, VA. February 26, 2007, poster presentation.<br /> <br /> DeBusk, J., J. Arogo, N. Love, and K.F. Knowlton. 2007. Adjusting N:P ratios in liquid dairy manure through nitrification and chemical phosphorus removal to match crop fertilizer requirements. ASABE AIM Tech Session SE-24, Mini-Symposium: Agricultural Waste Management and Land Application of Waste to Address Environmental Concerns. June 17-20. Minneapolis, MN.<br /> <br /> Dou, Z., C. F. Ramberg Jr., L. Chapius-Lardy, J. D. Toth, Y. Wang, R. J. Munson, Z. Wu, L. E. Chase, R. A. Kohn, K. F. Knowlton, and J. D. Ferguson. 2007. A novel test for measuring and managing potential phosphorus loss from dairy cattle feces. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41: 4361-4366.<br /> <br /> Dou, Z., C.F. Ramberg, L. Chapuis-Lardy, J. Fiorini, J.D. Toth, J.D. Ferguson. A novel approach for measuring and managing potential phosphorus loss from dairy cattle feces. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41:4361-4366. 2007.<br /> <br /> Dou, Z., C.R. Chen, C.F. Ramberg, J.D. Toth, Y. Wang, A.N. Sharpley, S.E. Boyd, D. Williams, and Z.H. Hu. Phosphorus speciation and sorption-desorption characteristics in heavily manured soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 2008. (in press).<br /> <br /> García, A.M., T.L. Veith, P.J.A. Kleinman, C.A. Rotz, and L.S. Saporito. Assessing manure management strategies through small-plot research and whole-farm modeling. J. Soil Water Conserv. 63(4): 204-211. 2008.<br /> <br /> Gay, S. W., J.A. Sparks, L.C. Marr, J. Arogo, M.D. Hanigan, and K.F. Knowlton. 2007. Evaluating the Effect on Dietary Crude Protein Content on Ammonia Flux from Dairy Manure. ASABE AIM Tech Session SE-24, Mini-Symposium: Agricultural Waste Management and Land Application of Waste to Address Environmental Concerns. June 17-20. Minneapolis, MN.<br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., L. M. Bauman, P. C. Hoffman, and D.K. Combs. 2008. Comparison of means and run to run variation of in vitro NDFD between two labs using different in vitro NDFD methods. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Suppl 1. P. 35 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., P. C. Hoffman, and D. K. Combs. 2008. An alternative method to assess 24h ruminal in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Suppl 1. P. 35 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., P. C. Hoffman, and D. K. Combs. 2008. Improvement of the rumen fluid priming method for measuring in vitro NDF digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Suppl 1. P. 35 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., P. C. Hoffman, and D. K. Combs. 2008. Amount of sample NDF affects estimates of in vitro NDF digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Suppl 1. P. 35 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> Gourley, C.J.P and Powell, J.M. 2007. Nutrient Management Approaches and Tools for Dairy Farms in Australia and the USA. Babcock Technical Bulletin 2007-04. Available: http://babcock.cals.wisc.edu/publications/display.lasso?locale=en&ID=648&Action=<br /> The Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706<br /> <br /> Güngör, K., J. Arogo-Ogejo, K. F. Knowlton, and N.G. Love. 2008. Prefermentation performance of a continuous pilot-scale fermenter treating dairy manure for enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Bioresource Technol. (in review)<br /> <br /> Gungor; K., J. Arogo Ogejo, K. F. Knowlton, and N. G Love. 2007. Biological phosphorus removal to produce Designer Manures for dairy farms. Virginia Techs Deans Forum on the Environment. Blacksburg, VA. February 26, 2007, poster presentation.<br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H. (2008). (Poster) The Role of Feed Management in Whole Farm Nutrient Management. National SARE Conference, KS City. <br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., & Bowers, K. (2008). (Poster) Capture of Phosphorus from Liquid Dairy Manure as a Fertilizer for Off-farm Transport. Conservation Innovation Grant Showcase Soil and Water Conservation Society Meeting, Tucson, AZ. <br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., White, R., Erickson, G., Sutton, A., Applegate, T., Burns, R., Carpenter, G., Koeslch, R., & Massey, R. (2008). National Feed Management Education and Assessment Tools as part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. Conservation Innovation Grant Showcase 2008 Soil and Water Conservation Society Meetings, Tucson, AZ. <br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., White, R., Erickson, G., Sutton, A., Applegate, T., Burns, R., Carpenter, G., Koeslch, R., & Massey, R. (2008). National Feed Management Education and Assessment Tools as part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. Conservation Innovation Grant Showcase 2008, Soil and Water Conservation Society Meeting, Tucson, AZ. <br /> <br /> He, Z., H. Zhang, G.S. Toor, Z. Dou, C.W. Honeycutt, and B.E. Haggard. Phosphorus forms in sequentially-extracted fractions of biosolids and broiler litter. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (Submitted).<br /> <br /> Hill, S. R., K. F. Knowlton, E. Kebreab, J. France and M. D. Hanigan. 2008. A model of phosphorus digestion and metabolism in the lactating dairy cow. J. Dairy Sci. 91: 2021-2032.<br /> <br /> Hill, S. R., K. F. Knowlton, K. M. Daniels, R. E. James, R. E. Pearson, A. V. Capuco,, and R. M. Akers. 2008. Effects of milk replacer composition on growth, nutrient excretion, and body composition in pre-weaned Holstein heifers J. Dairy Sci. 91: 3145-3155.<br /> <br /> Hill, S. R., K. F. Knowlton, R. E. James, R. E. Pearson, G. L. Bethard, and K. J. Pence. 2007. Nitrogen and phosphorus retention and excretion in late gestation dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 90: 4356-4360<br /> <br /> Hill, S. R., K. M. Daniels, K. F. Knowlton, R. E. James, R. E. Pearson, M. L. McGilliard and R. M. Akers. 2007. The effect of milk replacer composition on growth and body composition of Holstein heifer calves. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1): 297.<br /> <br /> Hill, S.R., K. F. Knowlton, E. Kebreab, J. France and M. D. Hanigan. 2007. A model of phosphorus digestion and metabolism in the lactating dairy cow. Can. J. Anim. Sci<br /> <br /> Hollmann, M., K. F. Knowlton, and M. D. Hanigan. 2007. Daily manure nutrient flow from a lactating cow facility. Proc. Tri-State Nutrition Conf. page 121, Ft. Wayne, IN. <br /> <br /> Hollmann, M., K. F. Knowlton, and M. D. Hanigan. 2008. Evaluation of solids, nitrogen and phosphorus excretion models in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1245-1257.<br /> <br /> Hollmann, M., K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, and G. L. Mullins. 2008. Nutrient runoff potential from fescue pastures using simulated rotational grazing of lactating dairy cows. Comm. Soil Sci. and Plant Anal. 39:2648-2662.<br /> <br /> Hollmann, M., K. F. Knowlton, M. R. Brosius, M. L. McGilliard, and G. L. Mullins. 2008. Phosphorus runoff potential of varying sources of manure applied to fescue pastures in Virginia. Soil Science 173: 721-735.<br /> <br /> Jensen, J. 2008. Effects of traditional grazing and deferred grazing on nutrient cycling. MS Thesis. Logan, UT: Utah State University.<br /> <br /> Jensen, J., and R. L. Miller. 2008. Effects of traditional grazing and deferred grazing on nutrient cycling. In 2008 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Kammes, K. L, G. Heemink, K. A. Albrecht, D. K. Combs. 2008. Utilization of Kura Clover-Reed Canarygrass Silage versus Alfalfa Silage by Lactating Dairy Cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91:3138-3144.<br /> <br /> Kendall, C., C. Leonardi, P.C. Hoffman and D. K. Combs. 2008. Intake and milk production of cows fed diets that differed in dietary NDF and NDF digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Accepted in press.<br /> <br /> Knowlton, K. F., M. S. Taylor, S. R. Hill, C. Cobb and K. F. Wilson. 2007. Manure nutrient excretion by lactating cows fed exogenous phytase and cellulose. J. Dairy Sci. 90: 4356-4360.<br /> <br /> Kozarek, J. L., M. L. Wolfe, N. G. Love, and K. F. Knowlton. 2008. Sorption of estrogen to three agricultural soils from Virginia. Trans. of the ASABE 51:1591-1597.<br /> <br /> Kristula, M.A., Z. Dou, J.D. Toth, B. Smith, N. Harvey, and M. Sabo. Evaluation of free stall mattress bedding treatments to reduce mastitis bacterial growth. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1885-1892, 2008. <br /> <br /> Lopes, J. C., A. P. Vilela, K. A. Weigel, K. A. Albrecht and D. K. Combs. 2008. Production of Holstein and Jersey x Holstein cattle grazing ryegrass/white clover pasture. J. Dairy Sci. 91:Suppl 1. P. 35 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> M. S. Taylor, K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, and J. H. Herbein. 2008. Blood mineral, hormone, and osteocalcin responses of multiparous Jersey cows to an oral dose of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 prior to parturition. J. Dairy Sci. 91: 2408-2416.<br /> <br /> McDowell, R., Z. Dou, J.D. Toth, B. Cade-Menun, P. Kleiman, K. Soder, L. Saporito. Extractability and speciation of phosphorus in feeds and feces of different dairy herds. J. Environ. Qual. 37:741-752, 2008.<br /> <br /> Miller, R. L, and D. N. Mortensen. 2007. Nutrient leaching and soil compaction in irrigated pastures under management intensive grazing. In 2007 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy.<br /> <br /> Miller, R. L. 2008. A Surprising Cause of Air Pollution. Utah Debate Conference. January 26, 2008. <br /> <br /> Montes, F., C.A. Rotz and H. Chaoui. 2008. Process Modeling of Ammonia Volatilization from Ammonium Solution and Manure Surfaces. ASABE Paper No. 083584, St. Joseph, MI: ASABE. <br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, D. G. Frederick, C. Leonardi. 2008. Design and Evaluation of a Sequential Biological Treatment System for Dairy Parlor Wastewater in Southeastern Louisiana. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Submitted.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., K. J. Han, M. E. McCormick. 2008. Corn silage management for lactating cows. LSU AgCenter, 5 p. 7/23/2008. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/livestock/dairy/ nutrition/Corn+Silage+Management+for+Lactating+Dairy+Cows.htm <br /> <br /> Mullarky, I. K., W. A. Wark, M. Dickenson, S. Martin, C. S. Petersson-Wolfe, and K. F. Knowlton. 2008. Analysis of immune function in lactating dairy cows on varying phosphorus diets. J. Dairy Sci. (in press)<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A. and D.S. Chianese. 2008. The Dairy Greenhouse Gas Model: Reference Manual, version 1.0. Available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/19020000/DairyGHG ReferenceManual.pdf.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A., H.D. Karsten and R.D. Weaver. 2008. Grass-based dairy production provides a viable option for producing organic milk in Pennsylvania. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2008-0212-01-RS. <br /> <br /> Skinner, R.H., M.S. Corson, and C.A. Rotz. Comparison of two pasture growth models of differing complexity. Agric. Systems (in press, accepted September 22, 2008).<br /> <br /> Taylor, M. S., K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard and J. H. Herbein. 2007. Blood mineral, hormone, and osteocalcin responses of multiparous Jersey cows to an oral dose of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 prior to parturition. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1): 359.<br /> <br /> Taylor, M. S., K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, W. S. Swecker Jr., J. D. Ferguson, and Z. Wu. 2007. Calcium and phosphorus balance and bone mobilization through lactation with varying dietary calcium. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1): 212.1st place presentation in National ADSA Production Division graduate student competition.<br /> <br /> Taylor, M. S., K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, W. S. Swecker, J. D. Ferguson, Z. Wu and M. D. Hanigan. 2008. Dietary calcium has little effect on mineral balance and bone mineral metabolism through 20 weeks of lactation in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. (in press)<br /> <br /> Velayudhan, B. T., K. M. Daniels, M. L. McGilliard, B. Corl, K. F. Knowlton and R. M. Akers. 2007. Abundance of mRNA expression and nutritional regulation of somatotropic axis genes in the small intestine of prepubertal dairy heifers fed high-protein high-fat milk replaces. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1): 295.<br /> <br /> White, R., Harrison, J.H., Kincaid, R.L., Block, E., & St Pierre, N. (2008). Effectiveness of potassium bicarbonate to increase dietary cation-anion balance in early lactation cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 91: (E-Supplement 1) 141. <br /> <br /> White, R., Harrison, J.H., Mertens, D., Yoon, I., Sanchez, B., & Nicholson, N. (in press). Effect of yeast culture on efficiency of nutrient utilization for. The Professional Animal Scientist. 24:114-119.<br /> Zhao, Z., K. F. Knowlton N. G. Love, and J. A. Ogejo. 2008. Contribution of 17-² estradiol to total estrogenicity in dairy manure subject to anaerobic digestion or separation and aeration. ASABE Annual International Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island. Paper #084384.<br /> <br /> Zhao, Z., K. F. Knowlton N. G. Love, and J. A. Ogejo. 2008. Estrogen removal with innovative treatment of dairy manure. ASABE Annual International Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island. Paper # 084366.<br /> <br /> Zhao, Z., K. F. Knowlton, N. G. Love, and Y. Fang. 2007. Advanced Treatment to Reduce the Estrogen Content of Dairy Manure. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress. May 15-19. Tampa, Florida.<br /> <br /> Zhao, Z., Y. Fang, N. G. Love, and K. F. Knowlton. 2008. Detection of endocrine disrupting compounds in various manure matrices using bioassays. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.09.055<br />

Impact Statements

1. We are developing cost-effective management strategies to reduce the adverse effects of dairy farms on water quality. The incentive payment project is the first large scale effort to incentivize precision feeding techniques on dairy farms. As such, it is receiving significant national attention. Our nutrient removal work is demonstrating great potential to design manure treatment systems to generate land applied material with composition tailored to the needs of certain crops.
2. Recycling of manure nutrients is an essential factor in a well designed nutrient management plan. However, under certain conditions it is uneconomical to spread manure onto their land because of high equipment/operation costs, absence of custom operators, or land shortage. Livestock operations can alternatively use sequential treatments to remove nutrients. The study carried out in 2006-2007 evaluated the potential for constructed wetland to substitute for aerobic lagoons, following anaerobic lagoons in sequential systems. Replacing aerobic lagoons with wetlands could significantly reduce costs to dairymen by avoiding the large site needed to provide adequate aeration compared to smaller wetland cell.
3. Consulting nutritionists and nutrient management planners were trained to assessment, development, and implementation tools for implementation of the NRCS Feed Management 592 practice standard.
4. Data collected from the manure application  groundwater study suggest that a spike in ground water nitrate is to be expected after grass sod is plowed down and reseeded.
5. A process for removal of P from liquid dairy manure was improved to remove 80% of P when manure is processed through and anaerobic digester. The struvite (form of P) was shown to have good nutritive value for growth of corn and alfalfa.
6. Some silage inoculant strains have been reported to improve milk yield or rate of gain in cattle even when effects in the silo have not been significant. These in vitro measurements on inoculated silages provide evidence that such observations may be explained by an inoculants effects on rumen fermentation, which appear to be independent of effects on silage fermentation. Understanding these effects and those of the polyphenol oxidase system may help to improve the efficiency of silage utilization by cattle, reducing the excretion of nutrients, particularly nitrogen.
7. The evaluation of various nutrient management tools identified various ways for their improvement. These changes would more easily quantify whole-farm nutrient balances, and also identify opportunities for enhanced nutrient use within farm components.
8. The Integrated Farm System Model and the new Dairy Greenhouse Gas model provide teaching aids that illustrate the complexity and many interactions among the physical and biological components of farms. As a research tool, IFSM is used to study the effects of system changes on the performance, economics, and environmental impact of farms or to determine more optimal food production systems. DairyGHG provides a simpler teaching tool for evaluating management effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Both tools provide farmers and farm consultants with useful information for strategic planning.
9. Manure from livestock operations is the major source of anthropogenic NH3-N emission nationally and globally. Results from the dietary N study suggests that limiting excess dietary CP will reduce feed cost, with no change in revenue from milk sales, but with a 27% reduction in NH3-N emission during manure collection.
10. Feed is one of the greatest costs a livestock producer faces. Grazing reduces feed costs by utilizing livestock to harvest the forage rather than incurring the time and expense involved with mechanical harvest and storage. Grazing systems that extend the grazing season through the use of deferred, or stockpiled, grazing reduce the need for mechanically harvested feed even more, thereby resulting in greater reductions in machinery and labor costs. However, grazing animals accelerate nutrient cycling and have the potential to increase nutrient leaching. Furthermore, extended season grazing typically occurs when there is little or no plant growth to utilize the excreted nutrients.

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Report Information

Participants

Jude Capper (capper@wsu.edu) Washington State University;
David Combs (dkcombs@facstaff.wisc.edu) University of Wisconsin;
Zhengxia Dou (douzheng@vet.upenn.edu) University of Pennsylvania;
James Ferguson (ferguson@cahp2.nbc.upenn.edu)University of Pennsylvania;
Mike Gamroth (mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu ) Oregon State University;
Joe Harrison harrison@puyallup.wsu.edu) Washington State University;
Stephen Herbert, Admin Advisor (sherbert@cns.umass.edu) University of Mass, Amherst;
Rhonda Miller (rhonda.miller@usu.edu) Utah State University;
Rick Muck (remuck@facstaff.wisc.edu) USDA, ARS, Madison, WI;
Michael Murphy (mrmurphy@uiuc.edu) University of Illinois;
Mark Powell (jmpowel2@facstaff.wisc.edu) USDA-ARS/Wisconsin;
Michael Westendorf (westendorf@aesop.rutgers.edu)Rutgers University
John Westra (jwestra@lsu.edu) Louisiana State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

NE-1024 Annual Meeting - Dairy and Beef Forage Systems
Meeting Minutes
Minneapolis, MN
November 17-19, 2009

Members Present
Rich Muck - Dairy Forage Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison;
John Westra - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge;
Mike Murphy - University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana;
Rhonda Miller - Utah State University, Logan;
Stephen Herbert - University of Massachusetts, Amherst;
Mark Powell - Dairy Forage Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison;
Jude Capper - Washington State University;
Mike Gamroth - Oregon State University;
Jim Ferguson - University Pennsylvania, Kennett Square;
Zhengxia Dou - University of Pennsylvania;
Mike Westendorf - Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey;
Dave Combs - University of Wisconsin. Madison

Al Rotz unable to attend, but Joe Harrison made his presentation. We called Al on November 19th am to get clarification on aspects of his presentation.

Administrative Advisor Report: Stephen Herbert is now the administrative advisor for this regional project. His university (U. Mass.) is undergoing many changes and additions, and Steve was appointed Associate Dean for Ag Research. In the Northeast region, the Associate Deans work with the regional projects. Stephen traded this project with Jon Wraith to more closely align interests.

For our new proposal a subgroup of the directors will review the proposal and make a recommendation to the full group of directors.

Station Reports
Mike Gamroth: He is working with producers who use copper in their foot baths to prevent hoof rot. There are increased soil copper levels with producers who use copper in their operations. He is also working with producers who have anaerobic digesters. There is more work to be done in this area especially with carbon foot printing. Also working on a cooperative study with New York and Wisconsin on organic farms to evaluate animal health and well-being. In this study they are monitoring animal care and health at 200 conventional and 100 organic farms. Also doing some research with on pathogens in bulk tanks. Troy (Oregon State University Extension Educator and cooperator with this committee) is rerunning some liming studies on soils that flood.

Rich Muck: Rich is conducting polyphenol oxidase (PPO) work; the PPO system in legumes binds to proteases in the plant and protects protein during the ensiling process. Red clover has PPO  preliminary results show that animals are more efficient in N utilization when fed red clover. Have some GM alfalfa with PPO. Have demonstrated on a small scale that this works. This group wants to conduct research with sheep. There are no grasses that have the appropriate substrates as well as the PPO system. The substrates are needed to utilize the PPO. They are also examining the effect of grass mixtures and conditioning. They are also examining the effects of MTD/1, which is an inoculum used for ensiling. They are observing animal effects even when the silage quality remains the same. Microbial biomass is much greater with MTD. Not seeing any differences in volatile fatty acids or gas production.

John Westra: John is working on a program funded by EQIP to help producers clean up storage lagoons. They have examined the cost of pumping relative to the value of nutrients taken out. With lower fertilizer prices it cost half of the producers more to pump the lagoon than the nutrients were worth. With current fertilizer prices the value of the nutrients is offsetting the cost of pumping it out. Also working on a study examining a three-stage waste treatment system and the cost for each additional treatment stage relative to the value of the additional nutrients removed.

Al Rotz: Al is studying the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from silage. He is using a process-based emission model. They took silage samples and placed in wind tunnel. Conversion to ethanol is a big concern. VOC emission from silage is transient. Point estimates are not sufficient. Loose silage has more emissions. Positive responses to air velocity and temperature. Also ran some simulations comparing grazing systems versus confinement systems and looked at sediment loss, phosphorus loss, nitrate leaching and ammonia emissions, GHG emissions, and the carbon footprint and carbon sequestration.

Mark Powell: Mark is studying GHG and ammonia emissions from tie-stall barns. Tie-stalls have been converted into emission chambers to measure ammonia emissions. The emissions rates are similar orders of magnitude per day for both the tie-stall and commercial systems. Also studying the influence of tannins on emissions. Similar measurement in the barn vs. lab chamber.

Upcoming studies: Effect of dietary forage to concentrate ratio and varying dietary forage levels with and without tannin supplementation (tannins from quebracho and chestnut extracts). Mark is doing the manure work; Michael Wattiaux and Glen Broderick are doing the animal work. Conducting a study comparing manure from cows corralled for 2 or 4 days or from manure barn stored 2 or 4 days. All N inputs and outputs are measured. Manure spread on cropland. Nitrogen retention, crop yield and N uptake are measured in two different crop rotations. More barn losses if manure is stored for four days rather than two. More field losses if stored for two. Corralling captures ammonia N, less loss, increases crop yield and N uptake. More captured form corralling than barn keeping.

Also studying N losses form slurry manure, when incorporated using different methods: no incorporation, partial (airway tool) and complete injection. Three application intervals. Used ammonia chambers and measured nitrate leaching using drainage lysimeters. Ammonia emissions were higher in two years and lower in two others. Some years there was leaching. The partial airway tool always resulted in higher levels of leaching. Highest losses were with no incorporation. Greatest leaching on the partial airway tool. Injection least for leaching and ammonia loss. Four year balance. Manure injection reduced ammonia emissions but not leaching. No effects of injection on crop yield. Although injection conserved nitrogen, no overall effects on crop yield.

Stephen Herbert - Studying nitrate leaching in a long term corn study, and the influence of cover crops, with or without a cover crop. Timeliness in putting cover crops on is important. If you put it on too late you won't conserve any nitrogen. Teach farmers to put cover crops on at the correct time. If you don't put it on at the right time, nitrate will be lost. A tool has been developed to help simulate the action of nitrate to determine leaching response. Simulate what is happening on the crop field. Also comparing ammonia volatility from fall surface applied manure. Do cooler fall temperatures have an effect on reducing volatility? Liquid dairy manure collected for four months September, October, November, and December - total N and ammonia determined. Built an ammonia collection device to capture ammonia. This device may effectively mimic the environment. Ammonia not volatilized at low temperatures but at high temperatures. Not clear what is happening in a late application. Good correlation with temperature. Also have an Angus grazing project, 9 steers grazing 28 grass blends.

Michael Westendorf - Mike is developing a nutrient management tool for small farms. This tool will allow for small farmers to complete nutrient management plans. These plans will be shorter than longer plans required for CNMP's. They include sections for determining manure production, manure storage and water quality, and determining spreading rates on different crops. Mike hopes s to make the program more accessible for public use. Mike is also conducting research with a byproduct called Okara from soybeans processed to make soy milk. This product is high in protein and fat and has been used as a protein supplement in dairy cattle diets. Studies are planned to determine digestibility and feeding value in ruminant diets.

Joe Harrison - Farm Nutrient Management Planning Economics (FNMPE): this is a program to evaluate the P levels in feeds coming on the farm. This tool could be helpful in managing P in the diet. FNMP tool - feed use management economics. Joe also presented two videos. Airway spreading. Broadcast vs. semi-incorporated

Community anaerobic digestion project initiated by Indian tribes. Formerly the anaerobic digester was a prison. The state deeded it over to the Indian tribe. They built a community digester. Conducting a study, is anaerobically digested manure any different from raw manure? There is more inorganic phosphorus in digested manure. Manure applied to cropland at equal rates of nitrogen. Five treatments: control, urea, broadcast pre-anaerobic digestion, broadcast post-anaerobic digestion, Airway incorporated pre-anaerobic digestion, and Airway incorporated post-anaerobic digestion. Higher ammonia losses in the post anaerobic digestion manure. DM yield very similar on all four of the plots (non-control plots). Collected from 5 cuts in 2009. Anaerobic digestion and composted manure results in less Nitrous Oxide than non-composted.

Also studying if anaerobic digestion can reduce bacteria load applied to the land. The anaerobic digester uses liquid whey, blood meal, breading from fish sticks, and out of date juices and wines from stores, in addition to dairy manure. A struvite system is planned to remove P. Counts of bacteria post anaerobic digestion were a 2 .5 log reduction from pre-digestion. Further composting result in yet greater reduction. Fecal bacteria reduced on soil. Anaerobic digestion and composted manure also results in less Nitrous Oxide than non-composted.

Zhengxia Dou - Working with 15 farmers in the Susquehana watershed. These farm case studies are focused on helping farmers economically by making changes in diet and feeding that also help the farm environmentally. Feed costs and Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) is a focus. Several case studies were shared. Five farms all showed that diet changes resulted in reduced MUN levels, lower nitrogen excretion, lower feed costs and a better economic bottom line. Another farm highlighted in improvement on a farm with calving difficulties in heifers. Another farm that was top dressing a TMR had higher P levels in the diet than calculated for the TMR (<.40%). The top-dress increased the level so that fecal P became a problem. Another farm free-choice dicalcium phosphate and found the same increased P.

Jim Ferguson - Precision Feeding Herd Analytics. Following 66 farms in the Chesapeake bay watershed. These farms average Crude Protein of 16.48% and soluble Protein of 6.6%. These are demonstration farms for feeding practices. Phosphorus levels on these farms: 42 farms <.40% P and 24 farms >.40% P. Herds with higher protein levels also had higher MUNs. Lower protein herds were feeding better quality corn silage. All dairy farms have been challenged to reduce N. The amount that would need to be reduced to meet the environmental goal would be an 89g/cow/d reduction. This would be very hard to attain. This 89g/cow/d reduction is an estimate to meet non-point source pollution goals. It is possible to reduce P to meet goals by diet alone. Much more difficult with N. This could only happen if we also saw reductions in milk production. Also working on cattle grouping strategies and reproductive efficiency.

Jude Capper - Conducting environmental and ruminant nutrition work. Just joined NE-1024. Her work is modeling and will evaluate all dietary prediction equations from NRC (2000, 2001 - Beef and Dairy) in order to determine the environmental impact of livestock systems. Two recent papers (Capper 2008/Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Capper 2009/Journal of Animal Science) describe some of this work. She determined the annual environmental implications of rBST use for producing 1 billion lbs of cheese or 10 billion lbs of milk (10:1 milk: cheese ratio). The use of rBST result in fewer cows and heifers (96,600 animal unit impact), less feed use (721,000 fewer tons of feed), fewer acres devoted to crop production (156,000 fewer acres or 244 square miles), reduced use of fuel and electricity, reduced manure production, and a reduced carbon footprint. This reduced carbon footprint is the equivalent of removing 112,000 cars from the road or planting 83.5 million trees.

Also compared dairy production in 1944 with today. Impact of milk production is considerably reduced since 1944. Also compared corn fed beef vs. grass fed beef. Corn fed averaged 1.61 kg/d of gain vs. grass fed that average .87 kg/d of gain. Corn fed beef finished in 237 d and grass fed beef was finished in 438 days. The determined that corn finished beef production reduced resource use and waste output per kg of gain.

Current and future projects
" Evaluate the environmental impact of changing dairy management practices
" Evaluate the environmental impact of dairy production for Jersey cows
" Evaluate the environmental impact of rumensin on dairy production
" Compare the environmental impact of historic and modern beef production systems - 1975 vs. 2007.
" Evaluate the environmental impact of growth-promoting technologies on the environment and the production of an affordable beef supply for a growing global population

Mike Murphy - Studying milk pH from the standpoint of milk quality. During the first few days of milk, the pH was much lower. After that it raised and was fairly consistent after that. Bacterial infection could lower pH in milk. Could also be related to animals being acidotic. Discussed an animal systems model that could help determine the effect of rumen pH on the diet. This model will also be used in teaching. Introduced in animal energetics related to the survivability of an animal.

Dave Combs - Dave feels he can contribute very well for Objective 3. Studying the potential for grass silages in dairy cattle diets; the different types of forage and forage fiber components on nutrient utilization, fat test and Fat Corrected Milk. Grass silage is being incorporated in grass silage with corn silage diets. Also trying to predict NDF digestibility in forages with the use of IVNDFD - in vitro NDF digestibility. Studying IVNDFD and its correlation with milk production and yield. Comparing the repeatability of the IVNDFD technique between different labs. Using Ankom bags and a modified Van Soest IVNDFD method. Rumen fluid is standardized with respect to lag time and microbial growth prior to in inoculating. A standard digested with inoculums and then an NDF assay is run using the Ankom system. Calibrating IVNDFD with NIRS (Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy) and their appears to be a good prediction potential.

Project Title: Whole farm dairy and beef systems with a focus on gaseous emissions, phosphorus management, organic production, and pasture based systems.

On the morning of November 18th we began to discuss the proposed project rewrite. Following completion of individual reports the group broke into a Committee of the whole and discussed the existing draft starting with Statement of Issues and Justification and Objectives. Discussed some philosophical issues related to the proposed regional project rewrite.

In the afternoon the group broke up individually to prepare contributions to methodology. The group reconvened at the end of the afternoon to evaluate the method section.

Added the following language at the beginning of the methods section: Determined how we could better show how this project is integrated among participants and to show how data from field and university studies (project collaborators conduct lactation and growth trials, on-farm research, field plot work, laboratory experiments in major dairy regions of the US) will provide the basis for site-specific (state) recommendations. Results of the research from individual states become critical components of dairy system models. The models are valuable to understand and apply information and technology that that will enhance the productivity, economic viability, and environmental performance of the US dairy and beef industries.

Discussed Logic Model. Needed to focus on outputs and outcomes (research, publications, guidelines, etc.) other than just models.

On the morning of November 19th, we met to finalize the proposal and make plans for next years meeting. First, we called Al Rotz to get some clarification about his presentation on November 17th.

Discussed appropriate reviewers: Larry Chase at Cornell, John Bernard at Tifton, Georgia, Doug Beegle at Pennsylvania State University, Dennis Buckmaster at Purdue, Timothy Griffin at Tufts University, Alex Hristov at Pennsylvania State University, Charlie Staples at Florida, Dave Beede at Michigan State University, Andy Cole at USDA-ARS at Bushland, Texas, and Jessica Davis at Colorado State University were all mentioned.

Mark Powell reminded us that there will be an International Greenhouse Conference in Canada on Greenhouse Gasses and Animal Agriculture.

Next years meeting: Either 7th and 8th of October or the week of 11th or 18th . Planning to meet in Massachussetts where Stephen Herbert will help to coordinate the meeting. Details, location, etc. will come later. We will circulate a poll for people to indicate their times and availability.

2009-2010 Officers: Mike Westendorf, Chair
Mike Murphy, Secretary

Conference costs - will be invoiced by Washington State University. Contact Janet York to tell her what should be on the invoice.

Minutes need to be circulated and submitted within 60 days.

Participant e-mails:
Dou Zhengxia - douzheng@vet.upenn.edu;
James Ferguson - Ferguson@vet.upenn.edu;
Mike Gamroth - mike.gamroth@oregonstate.edu;
Jude Capper - capper@wsu.edu;
Mike Westendorf - Westendorf@AESOP.Rutgers.edu;
Mark Powell - jmpowel2@facstaff.wisc.edu;
Stephen Herbert - sherbert@cns.umass.edu;
Rhonda Miller - Rhonda.miller@usu.edu;
Mike Murphy - mrmurphy@uiuc.edu;
John Westar - JWestra@agcenter.lsu.edu;
Rich Muck - Richard.Muck@ARS.USDA.GOV;
Dave Combs - dkcombs@wisc.edu;
Joe Harrison - jhharrison@wsu.edu;

Accomplishments

NE-1024 Regional Research Project: 2009 Annual Report<br /> <br /> I. Progress of Work and Principal Accomplishments <br /> <br /> A. Objective 1, Section 1a. <br /> Effects of forage conservation strategies on losses and nutrient availability.<br /> Muck an Powell - Wisconsin - ARS- Orchard grass silages made with different levels of conditioning and with and without addition of chlorogenic acid were analyzed. The addition of chlorogenic acid did not reduce the amount of proteolysis during ensiling except in the treatments with the highest level of conditioning.<br /> Trials comparing alfalfa and corn silages made untreated, inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 and formic acid were completed. The treatments affected silage fermentation as expected: a shift in fermentation products by the inoculant to greater lactic acid production and an overall reduction in fermentation products by formic acid. In vitro ruminal fermentation of the silages indicated few effects on gas and volatile fatty acid production due to treatment. However, both the inoculant and formic acid treatments increased microbial biomass production compared to untreated, and this was confirmed by N15 measurements showing increases in bacterial non-ammonia nitrogen.<br /> i. Nutrient uptake and nutritional value of crops. <br /> Washington - Harrison - A study was initiated in the spring of 2009 to look at the relationship between dairy manure application to a grass field, reseeding management, and nitrates in ground-water. Management evaluations were conventional and minimum-tillage. Data indicated an initial increase in soil nitrate associated with conventional tillage. The 1-ft soil nitrate levels increased to 60 ppm in the conventionally tilled soil. Managing the organic nitrogen in soil appears to play a major role in the concentrations of nitrate in shallow ground water.<br /> A study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic value of nutrients from anaerobically digested (AD) and non-AD manure for grass growth. The data from year one indicates that AD and non-AD manure support grass growth equally when applied at equal amounts of total nitrogen.<br /> <br /> B. Obective 1, Section 1b. Herd Nutrient Utilization Strategies. <br /> Survey of Feeding Practices on 66 Pennsylvania Dairy Farms in the Chesapeake Bay Water Shed - James D. Ferguson, Robert Munson, Linda Baker, Z. Dou<br /> University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA 19348<br /> <br /> Sixty six Pennsylania dairy farms were monitored for a one to three year period to assess protein and P feeding practices in lactating cows. The goal of the project was to work with nutritionists to encourage reduction in protein and P feeding. Total mixed rations and grab fecal samples from 8 high producing lactating cows were collected quarterly from the farms. Monthly DHIA records were collected, when farms were on DHIA. <br /> Farms were classified as to CP and P feeding practices based on initial TMR sampling. Production was not different for the farms by CP and P status on initial samples. CP concentration was significantly different based on the classification status. No other TMR values differed by CP status. Phosphorus classification was different for herds based on classification (Table 4), but no other TMR content of nutrients differed. Other analysis of milk production, reproduction based on the classification scheme is being analyzed. It was the goal of the project to see if herds with high CP concentrations and P concentrations would reduce these over time. In most cases, herds only slightly reduced CP and P from excess values. Herds already feeding low concentrations of CP and P continued to do so. Preliminary analysis shows that production and reproduction were not different with CP and P concentrations. <br /> <br /> Felton - West Virginia - Models integrating farming systems utilizing ruminant livestock must consider that the rumen is as dynamic of a biological system as the animal is within the entire farm system. Source and level of nitrogen found in ruminant animal waste is affected by dietary source and level and can pose environmental liabilities. Understanding that the rumen is not a static entity is crucial to minimizing nutrient load in animal manure. Rumen microorganisms are responsible for the majority of rumen activity and require nutrients in a synchronized fashion for maximal production and minimal nutrient loss. Previous reports demonstrate that diurnal changes in rumen activity exist and are influenced by things such as but not limited to basal diet and supplements as well as animal grazing activity. Grazing beef and dairy cattle consume their pasture based diets in non-equally spaced meals and at differing rates throughout the day. Carbohydrates and protein within these diets are composed of many different fractions that have varying rates of digestibility and availability. Given the above information, it is conceivable that there are times within a day that a loss of synchrony between supplies of carbohydrates and nitrogen can occur and ultimately effect nutrient excretion. The effects of time of supplementing: a fat enriched protein supplement on diurnal rumen activity and nutrient digestion were investigated in-vivo and supplemental fat, protein or fat and protein were investigated in-vitro. In the in-vivo experiment, 3 ruminally fistulated lambs were assigned to treatments in a 3x3 Latin Square designed experiment. Lambs were fed poor quality, low protein orchard grass hay at 0600h for all treatments and supplemented at 0600h (AM), 1800h (PM), or one half of daily allotment at both times (AP). There were treatment x time interactions (P < 0.001) on rumen VFA and NH3 concentrations and pH. Liquid passage rates did not differ (P = 0.56) between treatments while PM lambs had a slower solids passage rate (P = 0.04) than the AM and AP lambs. Treatments did not significantly affect hay intake, nitrogen retention or overall nutrient digestibility although PM lambs followed a slower passage rate with numerically less hay intake and numerically greater diet digestibility. In the in-vitro experiment, single-flow continuous culture fermenters were used in a generalized completely randomized block designed experiment in which 3 experimental supplements were tested across 3 experimental runs at 3 supplementation times to fermenters receiving fall-harvested coolseason pasture regrowth (17% CP). Fermenters were fed 50g/d dietary DM. Supplements were soybean oil (SO; 3% daily dietary DM), soybean meal (SBM; 7% daily dietary DM) and soybean oil with soybean meal (SBOM; 3 and 7% daily dietary DM, respectively) and were delivered to the fermenters at either AM, PM, or AP or not at all (C). There were treatment x time interactions (P < 0.05) for diurnal pH and NH3 as both the SO and SBOM supplemented in the AM resulted in a more neutral pH and lower NH3 concentrations at 6 and 3 h proceeding the morning feeding at 0600 compared to other treatments. No interactions (P > 0.05) of treatment x time were observed for VFA production, however effect of supplement did influence overall nutrient digestibility and VFA concentrations. Based on these results the time of supplementation can affect diurnal fermentation in-vivo and in-vitro but not to a similar degree. These results indicate that timing of supplement delivery may affect animal nutrient excretion and should be considered in any models utilizing supplements.<br /> Dou  Pennsylvania - With the support of Chesapeake Bay Foundation as well as National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants, we have been working with a number of dairy producers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The overall purpose is to help producers improve farm productivity while reducing environmental footprint. The real-farm experience has taught us valuable lesions. (i) It is logical and achievable to improve farm productivity while reducing potential nutrient losses at the same time. As demonstrated on farms 1 and 2 (table below), fine-tuned rations helped producers lower feed cost ($1,000 every three days on farm 1, $3,000 per month on farm 2), increase milk yield, while reducing urine-N. Urine-N is most susceptible to environmental loss. (ii) Increases in rumen available CHO, in particular starch availability, can also reduce the herd bulk tank MUN and thus decrease potential N loss, as shown on farms 3 and 4. (iii) Veterinarians can play a pivotal role in helping producers maintain good animal health and reproductive programs, which contribute to the bottom line of financial viability and success, as indicated in the case of farm 5. (iv) Dietary (TMR) analysis alone may not reveal the whole picture of nutrient feeding levels; fecal P testing can be a useful tool for monitoring if P is overfed, as indicated in the case of farm 6. (v) Concerted efforts are needed among all farm service providing personnel, e.g. feed company reps, agronomists, veterinarians, and producers themselves to help achieve the ultimate goal of enhanced production efficiency and environmental stewardship.<br /> <br /> Farm cow # Issues Intervention Post-intervention<br /> Feed cost Milk MUN Urine-N<br /> 1 750 Low cash flow Re-formulated ration -$.45/c/d +7 lb/c/d -3.5 mg/dl -33 kg/c/d<br /> 2 95 High feed cost Re-formulated ration -$1.09/c/d +2 -3.0 -3.6 kg/c/d<br /> 3 350 Feed digestibility Finer grinding +2.5 -4.0 -17.6kg/c/d<br /> 4 130 Corn silage change +3 -4.0 -6.5 kg/c/c<br /> 5 Death of 8 calves born to 1st calving heifers Suggested to give more time and let progress naturally No more loss of new born calves.<br /> 6 Dietary P<0.4%, but fecal total P~11, fecal extract P ~7 g/kg, indicating overfeeding P. Further investigation revealed the farm was top-dressing. Need to work with farm nutrition provider.<br /> 7 MUN around 14 mg/dl Limited opportunity through ration formulation, because had to feed alfalfa produced. Need to work with farmer and agronomist to adjust cropping strategies.<br /> <br /> Combs - Wisconsin - The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of limit feeding strategies on 1) manure excretion, rumen volume, feed efficiency, 2) examine the effects of replacing 5% DM by supplementing an ionophore while limit feeding, 3) evaluate potential carryover effects of limit feeding on lactation DMI, rumen volume, and milk yield.<br /> Ninety-six Holstein heifers (400 ± 6 kg, 15.2 ± .1 mo), including 9 heifers fit with ruminal cannula, were fed one of three dietary treatments for 180 ± 8 d in a randomized replicated pen design. Treatment diets included: control (C100) fed to a fixed bunk score, (L85) fed at 85% of C100 intake, and L85 containing an ionophore (I), 325 mg/hd/d of lasalocid, fed at 80% of C100 intake (L80 + I). The C100 and L85 diets were formulated and fed to achieve isonitrogenous and isocaloric intakes and L80+ I was fed as an alternative limit feeding strategy to investigate whether an ionophore could replace dietary DM. Treatment diets were fed as a TMR (1x/d) and heifers were evaluated for growth, rumen function, blood and manure excretion parameters. Heifers fed L85 and L80+ I consumed less DM and NDF when compared to heifers fed C100. Heifers fed C100 had lower ADG (0.81 vs 0.96, 0.89 kg/d), and higher feed: gain ratios (13.0 vs 9.1, 9.3 kg/kg) as compared to heifers fed L85 or L80 + I. No differences in rumen pH, NH3-N, and VFA were observed between C100, L85 or L80 + I fed heifers. Digesta volume, weight and density were unaffected by limit feeding and limit feeding did not result in carryover rumen volume effects when heifers were fed a common high fiber diet post trial. Ionophore supplementation (L80 + I) appeared effective as a limit feeding strategy in replacing 5% of the dietary DM, as no appreciable differences in heifer growth, rumen function or nutrient excretion were observed between heifers fed L85 and L80 + I. <br /> During the lactation phase of the trial no differences were observed among treatments for dystocia index, calf BW or 7 d postpartum cow BW. Lactation BW, DMI and feed efficiency did not differ between treatments at 45 and 90 DIM. Milk production and milk components were also not different between cows fed C100, L85 or L80 + I as heifers. Rumen digesta volume and density measurements were 76.2, 99.1 and 66.1 L for C100, L85 and L80 + I, respectively, at 45 DIM. However, by 90 DIM all cows had similar rumen digesta volume, suggesting effects of limit feeding on rumen capacity were mitigated by 90 DIM. <br /> Limit feeding or limit feeding in combination with supplementing an ionophore, improved heifer growth, increased feed efficiency during the growth phase and did not have detrimental effects on rumen function. Limit feeding heifers did not result in any deleterious carryover affects during lactation.<br /> Corn zein and starch can to be difficult to extract from feed samples during the rinsing phase of NDF assays. Zein is soluble in 70% ethanol, and corn starch can be degraded to soluble disaccarides with amylase. Our objective was to determine if pre-treating feed samples with ethanol or amylase affects estimates of NDF or in vitro NDF digestibility (NDFD). We also tested whether pre-rinsing Ankom F-57 forage bags with acetone affects estimates of NDF and NDFD. An alfalfa silage sample and a mixture of 70% alfalfa silage (the same alfalfa) and 30% corn grain were dried (60 C) and ground (1mm). Feed samples (0.5 g) were weighed into Ankom F57 forage fiber bags. Half the bags had been pre-rinsed in acetone and dried at 100 C prior to adding sample. Both sets of bags were then sealed and pretreated as follows: untreated (control), bags containing feed sample were rinsed with 70% ethanol prior to NDF analysis and in vitro NDF digestion (ETOH), bags and feed were treated with an amylase hot water rinse prior to NDF analysis and in vitro NDF digestion (AMYLASE), or bags with feed were pre-rinsed with 70% ethanol and then pretreated with amylase prior to in vitro digestion (ETOH-AMYLASE). All samples were analyzed in duplicate. In vitro NDF digestibility was calculated as: ivNDFD (% of NDF) =100 X [(NDF0h -NDF residue 24 h)/(NDF0h)]. NDF concentration of the alfalfa (43.1% of DM) or the mix of alfalfa and corn grain (35.7% of DM) were not affected by acetone pre-treatment of the empty Ankom bags, or the ETOH, AMYLASE, or ETOH-AMYLASE pretreatments.. Estimates of in vitro NDF digestibility (% of NDF) were higher from samples incubated in bags that had been pretreated with acetone (alfalfa; 28.6 v 30.9, P<0.1, alfalfa-corn mix; 21.1 v 26.8, P<0.05)) than in bags that had not been pretreated. The 24 h ivNDFD for control alfalfa bags (29.7% of NDF) significantly increased (P<.01) when bags with feed were pretreated with ETOH (36.8% of NDF) AMYLASE (36.3% of NDF) or ETOH-AMYLASE (38.9% of NDF). The ivNDFD values from control bags containing the alfalfa-corn mixture (23.9% of NDF) were also lower than from sample within bags that had been pretreated with ETOH (35.6 % of NDF), AMYLASE (38.5% of NDF) or ETOH-AMYLASE (37.6% of NDF). Acetone preatment of Ankom F57 forage had little effect on estimates of NDF in either sample, but did influence the estimate of 24h in vitro NDFD. Pre-treatment of the alfalfa or the alfalfa-corn mixture with ethanol, amylase or a sequential treatment of ethanol and amylase did not affect estimates of NDF. Estimates of in vitro NDF digestibility were elevated when samples were pretreated with amylase, ethanol or the sequential combination of ethanol and amylase. <br /> Knowlton  Virginia - The objectives of the research are to enhance cropping, grazing, and feeding management systems to improve animal nutrient utilization and reduce nutrient excretion and to evaluate and develop efficient animal, manure, and cropping systems for reduced nutrient flow, cycling, transformation and loss to the environment. Outputs in this time period include new applied knowledge, collaborations fostered, and grant funding obtained.<br /> To meet the first objective related to herd nutrient utilization strategies, we are conducting animal work to refine the P requirements of lactating cows, growing heifers, and pre-weaned calves. . We published the results of research evaluating the effect of dietary calcium on bone mineral metabolism and related research evaluating the effect of pre-partum oral supplementation of the active form of vitamin D. We continue work implementing intensive feed management practices on collaborator farms in Virginia, to improve whole farm nutrient balance. We are focused on practices such as improved forage quality, more frequent feed analysis, implementation of feed mixing and delivery tracking software, and reduced overfeeding. As part of this project, we are implementing an incentive payment program to reduce overfeeding of dietary P.<br /> Also relevant to the first objective we completed research and published the results of research comparing manure and nitrogen excretion from Jersey and Holstein cows. Also, we completed and published the results of animal work evaluating alternative methods of nitrogen preservation during urine collection.<br /> To meet the second objective related to reducing environmental impacts, we are expanding our research focused on implementing advanced wastewater treatment techniques on dairy farms to generate designer manures targeted to better meet crop nutrient needs. Approaches used include enhanced biological P removal (EBPR), struvite crystallization, and deammonification (nitritation coupled with denitrification), in combination with physical and chemical nutrient removal systems. This work will lead to reduced risk of nutrient losses from dairy farms and reduced potential contamination of surface water.<br /> Relevant to both objectives we are conducting research to evaluate approaches to reducing ammonia emissions from the barn floor and manure storage. We published the results of research evaluating the effect of dietary protein on ammonia emissions from the barn floor. We completed research evaluating the effect of dietary protein and dilution (mimicking scrape vs flush removal of manure) on ammonia emissions from anaerobic manure storage. <br /> <br /> C. Objective 2, Section 2 b. Information. <br /> Reduce environmental impacts of animal, manure, and cropping systems on nutrient flow, cycling, and transformation. <br /> <br /> Muck and Powell - Wisconsin - ARS - We determined the diurnal and forage tannin impacts on fecal N and urinary N concentrations and excretion rates of lactating dairy cows; and forage tannin impacts on fecal fiber fractions and their N concentrations. Significantly (P<0.05) higher concentrations of N were excreted in urine by cows fed low-tannin birdsfoot trefoil (LTBT) and red clover (RCL) than by cows fed alfalfa (ALF), or high-tannin birdsfoot trefoil (HTBT) silages. Cows fed RCL also had higher rates of urinary N excretion and lower rates of fecal N excretion than cows fed any of the other silage types. Fecal N excretion rates were greatest for cows fed LTBT and HTBT, followed by ALF and RCL. The mass ratio of fecal N to urinary N was higher in excreta collected in morning than evening. Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in feces, of N in NDF (NDIN) and acid detergent fiber (ADIN), and relative amounts of excreted NDIN and ADIN were significantly higher from cows fed HTBT than the other silage types. <br /> <br /> Slurry (feces plus urine) from dairy cattle fed rations containing silages of ALF, RCL, LTBT, or HTBT (collection described in previous paragraph) were then applied (375 kg N ha-1) to field plots during spring only or spring plus fall. After spring application, slurry type did not significantly impact soil pH, and only periodically impacted concentrations of soil NH4-N and NO3-N. First year corn N uptake after spring application of ALF slurry was greater than corn N uptake after LBFT slurry application or in control plots. Second year residual ALF plots had 35% greater corn yield and 50% greater corn N uptake than control plots, followed by RCL, LTBT and HTBT plots, which had from 17% to 22% greater corn yield and 29% to 36% greater corn N uptake than control plots. Corn yield and N uptake were not significantly impacted by slurry types applied the previous fall. Average residual N recovery by corn in spring slurry-amended plots ranged from 20% (ALF) to 13% (RCL and LTBT). Total N recovery was likewise highest in ALF plots followed by RCL and LBFT. Low impacts of slurry types on soil chemical properties and corn was likely due to several interactive factors, including low rainfall, high indigenous soil N availability, and high response variability associated with indirect estimates of slurry N recovery. <br /> <br /> We compared two dairy heifer management practices on manure N capture and recycling through crops: the conventional practice of barn manure collection and land application, and corralling heifers directly on cropland. Heifers were kept in a barn for two (B2) or four (B4) days and manure was hauled to fields, or heifers were corralled directly on cropland for two (C2) or four (C4) days. Four successive manure application seasons, spring-summer (SS), fall-winter (FW), summer (S) and winter (W) were evaluated over two years. Each season was followed by three-year crop rotations: SS and S by wheat (Triticum spp. L.), sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), winter rye (Secale cereale L.), corn (Zea mays L.), winter rye, and corn; and FW and W by corn, winter rye, corn, winter rye, and corn. Corralling resulted in 50 to 65% greater N applications than barn manure. In-barn N losses (% of excreted manure N, ExN) were greater from B4 (30%) than B2 (20%). Apparent N recovery of applied manure N (ANR) by wheat ranged from 13% to 25% at the lower (B2 and C2) application rates and 8% to 14% at the higher (B4 and C4) rates. First-year corn following FW had ANR of 13 to 32% at the lower (B2 and C2) application rates and 9 to 20% of applied N at the higher (B4 and C4) rates. As a percent of ExN, ANR over the 3 yr rotation from C2 was 50%, B2 35%, C4 30% and B4 22%. <br /> <br /> Harrison - Washington - An NRCS CIG grant was awarded to a team of land grant universities and lead by WSU to develop the infrastructure to implement the Feed Management 592 practice standard for NRCS. Tools in the form of assessment tools, checklists, and a feed management template were developed for the species of beef, dairy, swine, and poultry. Training workshops have been held for both nutritionists and technical service providers (nutrient management planners). A tool named Feed Nutrient Management Planner Economics (FNMP$) was refined to include beef management practices associated with composting of manure from feedlots.<br /> <br /> Moreira - Louisiana - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of modifying the anaerobic lagoon inlet to load wastewater below surface level on abatement efficiency of nutrient and coliforms in Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System (DWTES). The DWTES is a replicated three-stage system composed of anaerobic/facultative lagoons (ANL), aerobic/facultative lagoons (AEL), and three constructed wetlands (WLD) per replication. We hypothesized that discharging wastewater below surface would reduce ANL wastewater surface disturbance, which could allow for crust formation and improve wastewater treatment efficiency. Wastewater was delivered through an inlet set to load fresh wastewater between one foot and two feet below surface level in one of the anaerobic lagoons while the other anaerobic lagoon inlet discharged at one foot above wastewater level. Wastewater at the terminal end of each treatment stage were sampled bi-weekly during three periods of three months each, in a switch-back study designed to establish the pattern of changes in effluent water quality. Samples were used to determine pH, chlorophyll A, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia-N, nitrate-N, nitrite-N, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), anions, and DO concentrations. Statistical comparisons were made on samples from WLDs effluents. Two-thirds or more of TS and COD concentrations in the influent wastewater were decreased throughout the three-stage treatment system. At least 50% to 60% of E. coli, TKN, sulfate, and TP contents were removed through the system. Influent Escherichia coli counts (mpn) were reduced at a rate of 1 log/treatment stage for ANL and WLDs and 2 logs E. coli mpn/treatment stage in AELs. Below surface inlet accumulated 3.5 inches of solids more at the bottom of ANLs. There was no statistically significant effect of wastewater discharging method, but trends were observed for TSS (P d 0.13) and TP (P d 0.10). In agreement with solids accumulation in ANLs (depth measurements), TSS was higher in WLD effluent when wastewater was discharged above surface in ANL. Conversely, TP was greater in WLD effluent that were discharged below surface, suggesting greater degradation of organic matter releasing TP attached to smaller particulates in ANL. Preliminary results indicated discharging influent wastewater above or below lagoon surface could have some influence on wastewater treatment efficiency in a multi-stage wastewater treatment system.<br /> <br /> Miller - Utah - This study examines nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in both a traditional management intensive grazing system, and in a deferred grazing system. To replicate a system producers would use for maximum forage production, tall fescue was planted in the fall of 2005. The paddocks were in the establishment phase during 2006. In 2006, after the grass was growing well, soil cores measuring 38.1 cm in diameter and 111.8 cm in length were extracted using PVC pipe and a hollow-core drill. The soil cores were utilized to make zero-tension lysimeters which were then placed back in the ground. The top 40 cm of the PVC pipe was removed to allow for as much unrestricted plant growth as possible. Leachate is collected bi-weekly and analyzed for nitrate nitrogen. Data collection began in June 2007. Beginning in 2008, ammonia emission measurements were collected after each grazing event using dynamic chambers. <br /> <br /> Herbert - MA - High farm costs for feed and fertilizer significantly impact profitability of dairy farms. A system approach in production of corn silage with efficient cycling of nutrients can reduce input costs and reduce nutrient loss to the environment. With a focus on early planting with early maturing hybrids can achieve an earlier harvest time of corn enabling the timely planting of cover crops for increased end-of-season nitrogen accumulation. More than 100 lbs N/ac can be accumulated if the winter rye cover crop was planted in early September. Achieving an early planting date for cover crops is difficult for farmers who commonly are harvesting corn and spreading manure into mid to late September. Our research continues to indicate that early corn hybrids have similar yield on average to late season hybrids and may help to improve the possibility of earlier cover crop planting. Similarly, an early planting date of corn helps ensure an earlier harvest date. However, a new research approach was to harvest corn and plant cover crops by mid September, and then spread manure later when temperatures are cooler. Colder fall temperatures significantly reduced the rate of ammonia volatility from surface applied manure. <br /> <br /> Wattiaux - Wisconsin - Livestock and manure from animal feeding operations (in particular dairy operations) are important sources of undesirable gaseous emissions including ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). So far, these airborne gas species have been quantified individually, but there is a need to study them simultaneously. Experiment 1 is to study ´15N (i.e., the change in natural abundance of 14N and 15N) as a quantitative tool to predict volatilization of NH3 from stored manure. In experiment 2, the aim is to measure the impact of diet formulation on the emission of  and trade-offs between  NH3, CH4 and N2O measured simultaneously, first in a tie-stall barn (expt. 2 part 1) and then during long-term manure storage (expt 2, part 2). In experiment 3 the same diets as in expt. 2 will be used, but NH3 emission will be measured in a free-stall barn. This research fits into Multistate NE-1024 and leverage substantial in-kind resources from two colleagues at the US Dairy Forage Research Center who have agreed to contribute facilities and equipment free-of-charge to this project. Results highlighting the importance of diet formulation as a tool to optimize animal performance, NH3 emission and global warming potential (emission of CH4 and N2O on the basis of heat trapping effect) in dairy cattle will be summarized in 3 publications. <br /> <br /> Rotz - ARS Pennsylvania - Silage VOC Emissions: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from agricultural sources are believed to be an important contributor to tropospheric ozone in some areas. Limited data on VOC emissions from silage suggest that silage is a major source. Ethanol is the most abundant VOC emitted from corn silage, and thus was used as a representative compound to characterize the pattern of emission over time and to quantify the effect of air velocity and temperature on emission rates. Ethanol emission was measured from corn silage samples, removed intact from a bunker silo, over a range in air velocity (0.05, 0.5, and 5 m s-1) and temperature (5, 20, and 35°C) using a wind tunnel system. Ethanol flux ranged from 2.3 g m-2 h-1 to 220 g m-2 h-1 and 12 h cumulative emission ranged from 7.4 g m-2 to 270 g m-2. Ethanol flux was highly dependent on exposure time declining rapidly over the first hour and then more slowly for the duration of the 12 h trials. Cumulative emission increased by a factor of 3 with a 30°C increase in temperature and by a factor of 9 with a 100-fold increase in air velocity. <br /> <br /> Modeling Silage VOC Emissions: Process-based models were developed to represent VOC transfer within and from silage during storage and feeding. These models were based upon well-established theory for mass transport processes in porous media with parameters determined from silage properties using relationships developed for soils. Preliminary results indicate that VOC emission by advective flow of silage gas is generally insignificant compared to emission by surface convection and diffusion from within silage. VOC emissions are dependent upon silage properties, temperature, wind speed, and exposure duration, which have implications for measuring, predicting, and controlling VOC emissions from silage. Emissions appear to be co-limited by convection and diffusion; therefore, the EPA-style emission isolation flux chamber previously used to measure VOC emissions from silage does not represent field conditions.<br /> <br /> Objective 3, Refine, evaluate, and apply integrated quantitative models of dairy and beef farms to predict profitability and nutrient losses to the environment.<br /> <br /> Grazing and the Environment: Incorporating managed rotational grazing into a dairy farm can result in an array of environmental consequences. A comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts of four management scenarios was conducted by simulating a 250-acre dairy farm typical of Pennsylvania with: 1) a confinement fed herd producing 22,000 lb of milk per cow per year; 2) a confinement fed herd producing 18,500 lb; 3) a confinement fed herd with summer grazing producing 18,500 lb; and, 4) a seasonal herd maintained outdoors producing 13,000 lb. Converting 75 acres of cropland to perennial grassland reduced erosion 24% and sediment-bound and soluble P runoff by 23 and 11%, respectively. Conversion to all perennial grassland reduced erosion 87% with sediment-bound and soluble P losses reduced 80 and 23%. Ammonia volatilization was reduced about 30% through grazing, but nitrate leaching loss increased up to 65%. Grazing systems reduced the net greenhouse gas emission by 8 to 14% and the C footprint by 9 to 20%. Including C sequestration further reduced the C footprint of an all grassland farm up to 80% during the transition from cropland. The environmental benefits of grass-based dairy production should be used to encourage greater adoption of managed rotational grazing in regions where this technology is well adapted.<br /> Carbon Footprint of Dairy Production Systems: Dairy production, along with all other types of animal agriculture, is a recognized source of GHG emissions, but little information exists on the net emissions from our farms. Component models for predicting all important sources and sinks of CH4, N2O, and CO2 from primary and secondary sources in dairy production were integrated in a software tool called the Dairy Greenhouse Gas Model or DairyGHG. This tool calculates the carbon footprint of a dairy production system as the net exchange of all GHGs in CO2 equivalent (CO2e) units per unit of energy corrected milk (ECM) produced. Primary emission sources include enteric fermentation, manure, cropland used in feed production, and the combustion of fuel in machinery used to produce feed and handle manure. Secondary emissions are those occurring during the production of resources used on the farm, which can include fuel, electricity, machinery, fertilizer, pesticides, plastic, and purchased replacement animals. An evaluation of dairy farms of various sizes and production strategies gave cradle-to-farm gate carbon footprints of 0.37 to 0.69 kg CO2e per kg ECM, depending upon milk production level and the feeding and manure handling strategies used. <br />

Publications

Broderick, G.A. and Muck, R.E. 2009. Effect of alfalfa silage storage structure and rumen-protected methionine on production in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92: 1281-1289.<br /> <br /> Broderick, G.A., Muck, R.E., and Krizsan, S.J. 2009. Effect of silo type on utilization of alfalfa silage by lactating dairy cows. In: Broderick, G.A., Adesogan, A.T., Bocher, L.W., Bolsen, K.K., Contreras-Govea, F.E., Harrison, J.H. and Muck, R.E., editors. XVth International Silage Conference Proceedings, July 27-29, 2009, Madison, WI. pp. 361-362.<br /> <br /> Chaoui, H., F. Montes, A. Rotz, and T. Richard. 2009. Dissociation and ammonia mass transfer from ammonium solutions and dairy cattle manure. Trans. ASABE 52(5):1695-1706.<br /> <br /> Chianese, D.S., C.A. Rotz and T.L. Richard. 2009. Simulation of carbon dioxide emissions from dairy farms to assess greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Trans. ASABE 52(4):1301-1312.<br /> <br /> Chianese, D.S., C.A. Rotz and T.L. Richard. 2009. Simulation of methane emissions from dairy farms to assess greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Trans. ASABE 52(4):1313-1323.<br /> <br /> Chianese, D.S., C.A. Rotz and T.L. Richard. 2009. Simulation of nitrous oxide emissions from dairy farms to assess greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Trans. ASABE 52(4):1325-1335.<br /> <br /> Chianese, D.S., C.A. Rotz, and T.L. Richard. 2009. Whole-farm greenhouse gas emissions: a review with application to a Pennsylvania dairy farm. Appl. Eng. Agric. 25(3):431-442.<br /> <br /> Dou, Z., C. Ramberg, J.D. Toth, J. Ferguson, R. Kohn, K. Knowlton, L. Chase, Z. Wu. A fecal test for assessing P overfeeding: Evaluation using extensive farm dataset. J. Dairy Sci. (in press).<br /> <br /> Dou, Z., C.R. Chen, C. F. Ramberg, J.D. Toth, Y. Wang, A.N. Sharpley, S.E. Boyd, D. Williams, and Z.H. Hu. Phosphorus speciation and sorption-desorption characterisitcs in heavily manured soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 73:93-101, 2009.<br /> <br /> Ghebremichael, L.T., T.L. Veith, P.E. Cerosaletti, D.R. Dewing, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Exploring economically and environmentally viable northeastern dairy farm strategies for coping with rising corn grain prices. J. Dairy Science 92:4086-4099.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., and D. K. Combs. 2009. Modification of a Rumen Fluid Priming Technique for Measuring in vitro NDF Digestibility. J. Dairy. Sci. 92: 3842-3848.<br /> <br /> Goeser, J. P., P. C. Hoffman, and D. K. Combs, 2009. An alternative method to assess 24h ruminal in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility. J. Dairy Science. 92: 3833-3841.<br /> <br /> Güngör, K., J. Arogo-Ogejo, K. F. Knowlton, and N.G. Love. 2009. Prefermentation performance of a continuous pilot-scale fermenter treating dairy manure for enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Bioresource Technol. 100: 2124-2129.<br /> <br /> Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Modeling emissions of volatile organic compounds from silage. ASABE Paper No. 095967, St. Joseph, MI: ASABE.<br /> <br /> Hafner, S.D., F. Montes, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Modeling emissions of volatile organic compounds from silage. p. 239. In Broderick, G.A., A.T. Adesogan, L.W. Bocher, K.K. Bolsen, F.E. Contreras-Govea, J.H. Harrison, and R.E. Muck, Proc. International Silage Conference, July 27-29, Madison, WI.<br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H. (2009). Connecting profitability and stewardship - feed management indices related to whole farm nutrient management. Proceedings of 1th ADSA Discover Conference - Dairy Herd Analytics 17th ADSA Discover Conference on Food Animal Agriculture - Dairy Herd Analytics, Nashville, IN. <br /> <br /> Harrison, J.H., White, R., Erickson, G., Sutton, A., Applegate, T., Burns, R., & Carpenter, G. (2009). Dairy Feed Management Basics to Reduce Nutrients to Cropland. Proceedings of CA Annual Agronomy Society, Fresno, CA. <br /> <br /> He, Z., C.W. Honeycutt, T.S. Griffin, B.J. Cade-Menun, P.J. Pellechia, and Z. Dou. Phosphorus forms in conventional and organic dairy manure identified by solution and solid state P-31 NMR spectroscopy. J. Environ. Qual. 38:1909-1918. 2009.<br /> <br /> Kendall, C. C. Leonardi, P. C. Hoffman, and D. K. Combs. 2009. Intake and milk production of cows fed diets that differed in dietary neutral detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 92: 313-323.<br /> <br /> Knowlton, K. F., M. L. McGilliard, Z. Zhao, K. G. Hall, W. Mims and M. D. Hanigan. 2009. Effective nitrogen preservation during urine collection from Holstein heifers fed diets with high or low protein content. J. Dairy Sci. (in press)<br /> <br /> Knowlton, K. F., V. A. Wilkerson, D. P. Casper and D. R. Mertens. 2009. Manure nutrient excretion by Jersey and Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. (in press)<br /> <br /> Koeslch, R., Heemstra, J., Harrison, J.H., & Risse, M. (2009, June 21). Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center - Connecting with Clientele Using Web 2.0. Proceedings of ASABE Annual Meeting ASABE Annual Meeting, Reno, NV.<br /> Kruse, K. A. , N. M. Esser, P. C. Hoffman and D. K. Combs. 2009. Effects of limit feeding and ionophore supplementation on replacement heifer growth, rumen function and manure excretion. J Dairy Sci. 92 (E-Suppl. 1): 456 (ABSTRACT)<br /> <br /> Li., L., J. Cyriac, K. F. Knowlton, L. Marr, S. W. Gay, M. D. Hanigan, and J. A. Ogejo. 2009. Effects of reducing dietary nitrogen on ammonia emissions from manure on the floor of a naturally ventilated free stall dairy barn at low (0 to 20ºC) temperatures. J. Env. Qual. (in press)<br /> <br /> Miller, A. L., J. P. Goeser and D. K. Combs. 2009. Pretreatment of alfalfa forage samples with ethanol or amylase affects estimates of in vitro NDF digestibility. J. Dairy Sci. 92 (E-Suppl. 1): 30-31 (ABSTRACT). <br /> <br /> Montes, F., A. Rotz, and H. Chaoui. 2009. Process modeling of ammonia volatilization from ammonium solution and manure surfaces. Trans. ASABE 52(5):1707-1719.<br /> <br /> Montes, F., S.D. Hafner, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Characterization and measurement of VOC emissions from silage. p. 273. In Broderick, G.A., A.T. Adesogan, L.W. Bocher, K.K. Bolsen, F.E. Contreras-Govea, J.H. Harrison, and R.E. Muck, Proc. International Silage Conference, July 27-29, Madison, WI.<br /> <br /> Montes, F., S.D. Hafner, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Measuring emissions of volatile organic compounds from silage. ASABE Paper No. 096184, St. Joseph, MI: ASABE.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., L. K. Zeringue, C. C. Williams, C. Leonardi, M. E. McCormick. 2009. Influence of Calcium and Phosphorus Feeding on Markers of Bone Metabolism in Transition Cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92:5189-5198.<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R., B. D. LeBlanc, E. C. Achberger, D. G. Frederick, C. Leonardi. 2008. Design and Evaluation of a Sequential Biological Treatment System for Dairy Parlor Wastewater in Southeastern Louisiana. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Accepted.<br /> <br /> Leonardi, C., V. R. Moreira, R. D. Bardwell, M. E. McCormick, R., M. Autin Jr., B. Perez, M. C. Martinez. 2009. An Assessment of Current Feeding Practices in Louisiana Dairy Farms. Journal of Extension. Submitted (May/2009).<br /> <br /> Moreira, V. R. 2009. Chapter 13  Ruminant Nutrition and the Environment. In: Feeding Dairy Cattle. L. C. Gonçalves, I. Borges, P. D. S. Ferreira, eds. Belo Horizonte, Brazil. 396-432. In press.<br /> <br /> Sheffield, R., V. R. Moreira, B. D. LeBlanc, E. K. Twidwell. 2009. Dairy Sustainable Best Management Practices (BMP's), AgCenter Numbered Publication. In press.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Muck, R.E. and Holmes, B.J. 2009. Influence of cover type on silage quality in bunker silos. In: Broderick, G.A., Adesogan, A.T., Bocher, L.W., Bolsen, K.K., Contreras-Govea, F.E., Harrison, J.H. and Muck, R.E., editors. XVth International Silage Conference Proceedings, July 27-29, 2009, Madison, WI. pp. 277-278.<br /> <br /> Muck, R.E., Broderick, G.A. and Brink, G.E. 2009. Effects of silo type on silage quality and losses. In: Broderick, G.A., Adesogan, A.T., Bocher, L.W., Bolsen, K.K., Contreras-Govea, F.E., Harrison, J.H. and Muck, R.E., editors. XVth International Silage Conference Proceedings, July 27-29, 2009, Madison, WI. pp. 275-276.<br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. and Gourley, C.J.P. 2009. Cows arent equal opportunity manure spreaders. Hoards Dairyman. p. 54. January 25, 2009.<br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. and Gourley, C.J.P. 2009. Make the most out of your nutrients in feed, milk and manure. Grass Clippings, 4(1): 1-6. . http://www.cias.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/grassclippings209final.pdf <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. and Grabber, J.H. 2009. Dietary forage impacts on dairy slurry nitrogen availability to corn. Agron. J. 101:747-753.<br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. and M.P. Russelle. 2009. Dairy heifer management impacts manure N collection and cycling through crops in Wisconsin, USA. Agric., Ecosyst. Environ. 131: 170-177.<br /> <br /> Powell, J.M. Snap-shot assessment of nutrient use efficiency on confinement dairy farms. 2009. Fact Sheet. US Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, WI. http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/36553000/pdf's/Nutrient_use_efficiency/snap-shot%20assessment_PDF.pdf. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Broderick, G.A., Grabber, J.H. and Hymes Fecht, U.C. 2009. Effects of forage protein-binding polyphenols on chemistry of dairy excreta. J. Dairy Sci. 92: 1765-1769. <br /> <br /> Powell, J.M., Rotz, C.A. and Weaver, D.M. 2009. Nitrogen use efficiency in dairy production. In: Grignani, C., Acutis, M., Zavattaro, L., Bechini, L., Bertora, C., Marino Gallina, P. and Sacco, D., editors. Proceedings of the 16th Nitrogen Workshop-Connecting different scales of nitrogen use in agriculture, June 28-July 1, 2009, Turin, Italy. pp. 241-242.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A. 2009. Silage and whole-farm nutrient management. p. 3-13. In Broderick, G.A., A.T. Adesogan, L.W. Bocher, K.K. Bolsen, F.E. Contreras-Govea, J.H. Harrison, and R.E. Muck, Proc. International Silage Conference, July 27-29, Madison, WI.<br /> <br /> Rotz, C.A., K.J. Soder, R.H. Skinner, C.J. Dell, P.J. Kleinman, J.P. Schmidt, and R.B. Bryant. 2009. Grazing can reduce the environmental impact of dairy production systems. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2009-0916-01-RS.<br /> Skinner, R.H., M.S. Corson, and C.A. Rotz. 2009. Comparison of two pasture growth models of differing complexity. Agric. Systems 99:35-43.<br /> <br /> Taylor, M. S., K. F. Knowlton, M. L. McGilliard, W. S. Swecker, J. D. Ferguson, Z. Wu and M. D. Hanigan. 2009. Dietary calcium has little effect on mineral balance and bone mineral metabolism through 20 weeks of lactation in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92: 223-237.<br /> <br /> Toth, J.D., Z. Dou, J.D. Ferguson, C.F. Ramberg, Y. Feng, and Q. Wang. Effect of veterinary antimicrobials on metabolism of manure and soil microorganisms. Chemosphere. (in review).<br /> <br /> Weinberg, Z.G., Miron, J., Chen, Y., Muck, R.E., Contreras-Govea, F.E., Weimer, P.J., Filya, I. and Kung, Jr., L. 2009. The effect of LAB silage inoculants on the rumen environment--current research status. In: Broderick, G.A., Adesogan, A.T., Bocher, L.W., Bolsen, K.K., Contreras-Govea, F.E., Harrison, J.H. and Muck, R.E., editors. XVth International Silage Conference Proceedings, July 27-29, 2009, Madison, WI. pp. 55-56.<br /> <br /> Zhang, T., Bowers, K., Harrison, J.H., & Chen, S. (2009). Characterization of phosphorus in anaerobically digested dairy effluent and implications to phosphorus removal through struvite crystallization. Preprints of Papers / Division of Environmental Chemistry, American Chemical Society. 48(1), 499.<br /> <br /> Zhang, T., Bowers, K., Harrison, J.H., & Chen, S. (2009). Releasing phosphorus from calcium for struvite fertilizer production from anaerobically digested dairy effluent. Water Environment Research <br /> <br /> Zhang, T., Bowers, K., Harrison, J.H., & Chen, S. (2009, October 30). Impact of calcium on struvite precipitation from anaerobically digested dairy wastewater. New Membranes and Advanced Materials for Wastewater Treatment <br />

Impact Statements

1. Consulting nutritionists and nutrient management planners were trained to assessment, development, and implementation tools for implementation of the NRCS Feed Management 592 practice standard.
2. Data collected from the manure application  groundwater study suggest that a spike in ground water nitrate is to be expected after grass sod is plowed down and reseeded.
3. The results of both studies are preliminary and require verification in further work. The most conclusive study was the group of inoculant and formic acid trials. These results suggest that at least this specific inoculant can affect rumen fermentation, producing more microbial protein. This increase in microbial protein is of a magnitude to explain milk production responses to inoculated silage that have been reported in the past and indicate that inoculants have the potential to improve the efficiency by which cows can utilize silage N.
4. Study results demonstrate that the type of forage consumed by lactating dairy cows impacts concentrations of N in feces and urine, N excretion rates, concentrations of fiber fractions in feces, and the relative partitioning of N in fecal fiber fractions. These factors need to be considered when collecting dairy manure for environmental studies. Study results are also expanding dairy nutrition research to evaluate rations that satisfy the nutritional demands of high producing cows and at the same time produce manure that has desirable environmental properties, including recycling through crops. Research on dairy herd management demonstrates that corralling dairy cattle directly on cropland reduces ammonia loss and improves urine N capture and recycling through crops.
5. Recycling of nutrients is an essential factor in well designed nutrient management plan. High equipment/operation costs, absence of custom operators, or land shortage can make land spreading manure uneconomical. Alternatively, AFOs can use sequential treatment systems to remove pollutants. A study carried out in 2008-2009 evaluated the effect of delivering wastewater above or below surface level in anaerobic lagoons. Delivering wastewater below surface could improve treatment efficiency if coupled with P capture method in the effluent.
6. Feed is one of the greatest costs a livestock producer faces. Grazing reduces feed costs by utilizing livestock to harvest the forage rather than incurring the time and expense involved with mechanical harvest and storage. Grazing systems that extend the grazing season through the use of deferred, or stockpiled, grazing reduce the need for mechanically harvested feed even more, thereby resulting in greater reductions in machinery and labor costs. However, grazing animals accelerate nutrient cycling and have the potential to increase nutrient leaching. Furthermore, extended season grazing typically occurs when there is little or no plant growth to utilize the excreted nutrients. This study examines the environmental effects of deferred grazing.
7. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently implemented new rules for Animal Feeding Operations. Although grazing operations are currently exempt from these regulations, initial discussions with EPA for the development of the Utah Strategy included grazing operations in the regulations. Little data on the environmental impacts of livestock in grazing systems exists. In a study at the Caine Dairy, tall fescue was the best at utilizing nutrients and produced leachate with the lowest nitrogen concentrations. This study compares the environmental impacts of tall fescue in a traditional management intensive grazing system, an extended-season grazing system, and under mechanical harvest (hay production). This study will provide scientific data that can be used in the decision-making process when/if grazing systems are regulated.
8. The Integrated Farm System Model and the Dairy Greenhouse Gas model provide teaching aids that illustrate the complexity and many interactions among the physical and biological components of farms. As a research tool, IFSM is used to study the effects of system changes on the performance, economics, and environmental impact of farms or to determine more optimal food production systems. DairyGHG provides a simpler teaching tool for evaluating management effects on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. Both tools provide farmers and farm consultants with useful information for strategic planning.
9. Seeding cover crops in early September in Massachusetts significantly reduces nitrate leaching and conserves N for the next seasons crop. Applying manure late in the fall/early winter reduces ammonia loss to the air. We initially recommend if surface applying liquid dairy manure do so, to an earlier established cover crop, as late as possible in the fall before snow fall.
10. We are developing cost-effective management strategies to reduce the adverse effects of dairy farms on water quality. The incentive payment project is the first large scale effort to incentivize precision feeding techniques on dairy farms. As such, it is receiving significant national attention. Our nutrient removal work is demonstrating great potential to design manure treatment systems to generate land applied material with composition tailored to the needs of certain crops. Accounting for breed differences in manure excretion will support more effective nutrient management planning on dairy farms. Improvements in total collection methodology will support continued progress in understanding of livestock N utilization and post-excretion changes in manure N.

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Report Information

Participants

Steve Smith, NIFA; Rich Muck, Dairy & Forage Research Center, WI; Vinicius Moeira, Louisiana State University; Sarah Weis, Univ. Mass.; Massoud Hashemi, Univ. Mass.; Stephen Herbert, Univ. Mass.; Timothy Randhir, Univ. Mass.; Rhonda Miller, Utah State University; Joe Harrison, Washington State University; Ali Farsad, Univ. Mass.; Qian Yu, Univ. Mass.; Richard Kohn, Univ. Maryland

Brief Summary of Minutes

Reports

Steve Smith Report: Dr. Catherine Woteki is the undersecretary of agriculture for research, education, and economics. Dr. Roger Beachy is the director for NIFA. Five primary areas of focus are climate change, bioenergy, food safety, nutrition and childhood obesity, global food security.

Timothy Randhir and Stephen Herbert, University of Massachusetts

A web-based crop decision support system for cover-crop planting is being developed. As part of this, the effects on N loss of manure application in both the fall and the spring are being examined. The results showed that 70.25 lbs N is lost by delaying planting one week, 76.62 lbs by delaying 2 weeks, and 81.33 lbs by delaying 3 weeks. This is affected by the amount of rainfall in the fall. Was better to plant an early season corn (95-day) so it can be harvested earlier and get the cover crop planted on time. Cover crops also help protect against erosion  can plant a cover crop up to 2 weeks later than desired and still get decent erosion protection.

Field trip.

Vinicius Moreira, University of Louisiana

• Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System (DWTES). Bottom loading appeared to increase solids digestion in anaerobic lagoons.
  
• Effect of Wetland Flow Rates. Storage capacity may be the most limiting condition, but whenever possible slower flow rates are recommendable.
  
• Floating Island Vegetative Filter Systems. Very little solids accumulation at bottom of lagoon. Most of E coli at end was from wildlife, not cows. Ratio of N2 gas production to NO2 production will be a critical component.

Rick Kohn, University of Maryland

Using Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN), to improve dairy herd nutrition. Urine N is very well correlated with MUN. Most of the variation in MUN is based on the amount of protein fed. Tend to overfeed protein  especially when doing precision feeding. Have reduced feed from 18% CP to 16.5% and havent lost any milk production. Can probably go lower. Target MUN is 8-11 mg/dl.

Thermodynamic Equilibrium in Biological Systems. Working on models that integrate kinetics and thermodynamics such as found in the rumen and manure digestors.

Rich Muck, Dairy & Forage Research Center, Wisconsin

Comparing silage treated with inoculants vs untreated silage. Found no difference in DMI, but observed pH differences, and a 2 lb milk production increase with the treated silage. Silage inoculants can improve milk production by about 3%.

Mark Powell, Dairy & Forage Research Center, Wisconsin

Examining dairy slurry application methods (no, partial, and complete incorporation) and the effect on ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching. Finding large variation from year to year. Generally no incorporation treatment resulted in more ammonia loss; whereas, injection resulted in more nitrate leaching. Overall, the greatest N loss from partial incorporation, the least from injection.

Joe Harrison, University of Washington

Examining anaerobically digested manure versus undigested manure. Aerators used to apply manure, with the manure being applied right behind the tines that punch the holes. Finding lower carbon content and increased N2O in the anaerobically-digested manure. Plots performed similarly regardless of manure type or application method. Soil nitrate levels in the control plots were much lower. Also examining manure treatment methods and the effect on pathogens.

Rhonda Miller, Utah State University

Steel slag study. Examining the feasibility of using electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag to remove P from lagoon effluent. Bench-scale study looked at the effect of temperature, warm and cold, and high organic matter content on P removal capabilities. Steel slag was able to remove ~70% of the P from the effluent over the four-month study. Cold temperature treatment removed more P than the warm temperature treatment.

Notes

Final report due in 60 days. Please see Final Report attached, in lieu of Minutes.

Ask Mike Westendorf to be chair again. Rick Kohn will be secretary. Joe Harrison will host the next meeting.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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