Quantitative effects of feed protein reduction and methionine on nitrogen use by cows and nitrogen emission from slurry.
The effects on N use and N volatilization from slurry were investigated in 24 early-lactation Brown Swiss cows (32 kg/d milk) fed four diets with 128, 124, 147 and 175 g/kg DM of crude protein (CP). All diets were supplemented with 0.75 g/kg of rumen-protected Met except for one of the low-protein rations (128 g/kg of CP). The unsupplemented low-protein ration was calculated to be deficient in Met by approximately 20%. No significant treatment effects on performance, water intake and excretion, and slurry quantities were observed. Differences in N intake were closely reflected in the daily excretions of total and urea N via urine, and in urine N as a proportion of total excretory N. These values were higher for the unsupplemented low-protein ration than for the Met-supplemented low-protein ration. The treatment effects on fecal N excretion were generally smaller, and milk N excretion and N balance were not affected. Feed N utilization for milk N excretion increased with decreasing CP content from 27% for the high-protein group to about 35% for the two low-protein groups. Comparing the Met supplemented rations only, ammonia N emission from fresh slurry (excreta:water = 1:0.5) decreased from 231 to 160 and 55 microg/s per square meter of surface with 175, 147 and 124 g/kg of CP, respectively, and the corresponding total N losses during 7 wk of slurry storage declined from 89 to 57 and 25 g/d per cow. Regression analysis demonstrated the basic suitability of milk urea N excretion to estimate urine N excretion and, consequently, potential N emissions.
Kröber
T F
TF
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Institute of Animal Sciences, Animal Nutrition, ETH centre/LFW, Switzerland.
Külling
D R
DR
Menzi
H
H
Sutter
F
F
Kreuzer
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis*
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014508:Urea; D008715:Methionine; D009584:Nitrogen