Two hundred sixty four yearling heifers (781 ± 35 lb) were blocked by weight in a 2X2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine effects of 20% corn wet distiller’s grains plus soluble (WDGS) on animal performance in steam-flaked corn (SFC) and dry-rolled corn (DRC) based finishing diets. No corn processing method by WDGS inclusion interactions were detected (P ≥ 0.29). Heifers consuming ...

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that only 6.4% of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originated from agriculture. Of this amount, 53.5% comes from animal agriculture. Agricultural activities are the largest source of N2O emissions in the U.S. accounting for 69% of the total N2O emissions for 2009. In animal agriculture, the greatest contributor to methane emissions ...

The chemical composition of manure P is a key factor determining its potential bioavailability and susceptibility to runoff. The distribution of P forms in 13 dairy manures was investigated with sequential fractionation coupled with orthophosphate-releasing enzymatic hydrolysis. Among the 13 dairy manures, manure total P varied between 4100 and 18,300 mg kg(-1) dry matter (DM). Water-extractabl...

Crop systems and fertilization sources can affect the chemical properties of the soil and, consequently, its fertility. With the aim of evaluating the effect of such management practices, soil samples collected at 0.0-0.10; 0.10-0.20; and 0.20-0.40 m in depth were collected and analyzed in the second year of an experiment installed in 2006 in a Rhodic Hapludox under no-till farming, located in ...

Ammonia (NH3) is an important trace gas species in the atmosphere that can have negative impacts on human, animal, and ecosystem health. Agriculture has been identified as the largest source of NH3, specifically livestock operations. NH3 emissions from a commercial dairy in California were investigated during June 2008. Cattle were held in open-lot pens, except for young calves in hutches with ...

The emerging environmental spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and their subsequent acquisition by clinically relevant microorganisms is a major threat to public health. Animal manure has been recognized as an important reservoir of ARGs; however, the dissemination of manure-derived ARGs and the impacts of manure application on the soil resistome remain obscure. Here, we conducted a mi...

The worldwide heavy use of veterinary pharmaceuticals in confined animal-feeding operations has resulted in annual discharge of 3,000–27,000 tons of drug chemicals via livestock manure into the environment. More than 50 major antibiotics have been detected in poultry, swine, cattle, and horse manures at 0.01–765 mg kg 1 dry manure mass. In animal manures, most veterinary pharmaceuticals degrade...

The storage and handling of animal wastes is one of the main sources of ammonia gas emissions. Ammonia gas has a distinct, unpleasant odor and can become detrimental to the health of humans and animals at high concentrations. Ammonia emissions are of particular concern in manure drying systems, where large losses of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia can cause air quality concerns. The aim of thi...

Generation of odors is a complex process that involves many bacterial species, producing an extensive array of volatile organic compounds under different manure storage systems currently used. A lack of understanding of the basic microbiology in manure leads to a poor odor prevention and control from animal wastes. This review covers pertinent available information about the indigenous bacteria...

Manure from animal farms and sewage sludge contain pathogens and opportunistic organisms in various concentrations depending on the health of the herds and human sources. Other than for the presence of pathogens, these waste substances are excellent nutrient sources and constitute a preferred organic fertilizer. However, because of the pathogens, the risks of infection of animals or humans incr...