Nutritional methods to decrease N losses from open-dirt feedlots in Nebraska.

Managing N inputs and the effect on N losses following excretion in open-dirt feedlots in Nebraska.

Nutrition will play an important role in meeting the environmental challenges of beef cattle feedlots. Nutritionists are continually refining protein requirements, and have recently adopted a new metabolizable protein (MP) system to more efficiently use nitrogen (N) and allow more accurate diet formulation. Protein requirements vary by animal age and weight during the finishing period. Our hypo...

Effect of Sawdust or Acid Application to Pen Surfaces on Nitrogen Losses from Open-Dirt Feedlots

Nutritional and management methods to decrease nitrogen losses from beef feedlots.

Nitrogen losses from open beef feedlots are a concern. Methods that decrease volatilization losses will lead to greater manure N, which is likely to be beneficial in open lot beef operations. Twelve or more pens were dedicated to N research whereby N intake, retention, and excretion were quantified and a mass balance conducted using manure, runoff, soil balance, and loss quantities. The objecti...

Nutrient, Carbon, and Mass Loss During Composting of Beef Cattle Feedlot Manure

Quantification ofnutrient andmass loss during composting isneeded ωunderstand the composting process, to implement methods for nutrient conservation, andto reduce potential adverse environmental impact. Beef cattle feedlot manure was composted in a windrow on an open concrete area in 1992, 1993, and 1994 to determine the amounts ofnutrient, C, and mass loss during composting. The area was enclo...

Effect of organic matter addition to the pen surface and pen cleaning frequency on nitrogen mass balance in open feedlots.

Three finishing trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary manipulation and management on N losses from open feedlots. In each experiment, 96 steers were assigned randomly to 12 nutrient balance pens. In Trial 1, calves were fed for 180 d during the winter/spring months; in Trial 2, yearlings were fed for 132 d in the summer. In Trials 1 and 2, N losses from pens were compared di...