ARS | Publication request: FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES TO DECREASE NITROGEN POLLUTION FROM BEEF CATTLE FEEDYARDS

Submitted to: Proceeding of Plains Nutrition Council Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 13, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: This manuscript provides a review of current knowledge concerning nutritional and management techniques to reduce nitrogen losses by beef cattle in confined feeding operations. It includes a brief review of the nitrogen cycle in feedyards, nitrogen metabolism by beef cattle, and factors that affect nitrogen metabolism/excretion in cattle. The majority of nitrogen losses occur in the atmosphere as ammonia and other nitrogenou compounds. These losses can be decreased by altering the amounts of dietary nitrogen as well as changing the sources of dietary nitrogen. Nutritional and management regimens that increase the recycling of nitrogen from the lower gut to the rumen could potentially improve the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and decrease urinary nitrogen excretion, thereby decreasing atmospheric nitrogen losses.