Nutritional and Management Practices to Reduce Excessive Nutrient Excretion on Dairy Farms

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dc.contributor.authorWydner, Fred Preston, IIIen
dc.contributor.committeechairJames, Robert E.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairKnowlton, Katharine F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJones, Gerald M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcGilliard, Michael L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberNickerson, Stephen C.en
dc.contributor.departmentDairy Scienceen
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-06T14:41:43Zen
dc.date.adate2003-10-29en
dc.date.available2011-08-06T14:41:43Zen
dc.date.issued2003-10-14en
dc.date.rdate2004-10-29en
dc.date.sdate2003-10-29en
dc.description.abstractA 2-yr field study was conducted to reduce nutrient losses from Virginia dairy farms through nutritional and herd management practices. Ten collaborator herds were identified, all at state DHIA average or better for milk yield and days open. Baseline feed samples and ration information were collected for 2 mo and analyzed for phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Feeds were analyzed monthly, and monthly DHIA milk yield, milk composition, milk urea N (MUN), and reproductive data were recorded. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 25 cows/herd every 3 mo to monitor P excretion and blood urea N. Nutrient balances were developed for each farm for N and P at the start of the study and following ration and management changes. Collaborator herds imported, on average, 290% more N and 320% more P onto the farm than was removed through milk, culled animals, crop sales, or manure sales. By following NRC (1989) recommendations, collaborator farms could reduce N inputs by 21% and P inputs by 45%. Minimizing P in purchased feed, purchased feeds/cow, purchased feeds/ha, and total P input could cause significant reductions in P balance for participating collaborator herds. None of the N variables tested (purchased feed, purchased feed/cow, purchased feed/ha, and total N input) provided significant reductions.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.otheretd-10292003-105938en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10292003-105938en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/9607en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartFreddieThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectnutrient balanceen
dc.subjectNitrogenen
dc.subjectPhosphorusen
dc.subjectnutrient excretionen
dc.subjectdairyen
dc.titleNutritional and Management Practices to Reduce Excessive Nutrient Excretion on Dairy Farmsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineDairy Scienceen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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