Oudshoorn, Frank; Kristensen, Troels and Nadimi, Esmaeil (2008) Dairy cow defecation and urination frequency and spatial distribution in relation to time-limited grazing. Livestock Science, 2008 (113), pp. 62-73.
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Summary
The objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of limited grazing time on urination and defecation frequency, spatial distribution of excrement in the paddock, and the resulting nitrogen balance at animal and field level. During a 6-week period in early summer, 60 Holstein Frisian dairy cows (31.0±5.4 kg ECM) were randomly allocated to three different treatments, with grazing at clover-grass pasture during daytime for 4, 6.5 or 9 h daily. Indoor feeding, with a mixture of roughage and concentrates (13% crude protein), was restricted for treatment 4 and 6.5 h to the amount the 9-h treatment could eat. Cows allowed grazing at pasture for 4 h moved more rapidly during pasture, moved longer distance per active hour and used a higher proportion of the time eating, both at pasture and indoor, than the cows allowed longer time at pasture. Limiting the grazing time had no influence on the urination (mean=0.26) and defecation (mean=0.37) frequency per cow per hour during pasture. Even though the proportion of time active (eating, drinking, standing or walking), and the actual time active during pasture was different for the treatments, the frequency of urination and defecation per active hour was also unaffected by the treatments. Urine and faeces were distributed in the pasture, without specific hot-spots. The estimated daily N-balance at animal level showed increased N excretion with time at pasture. Assuming that excretion follows the active periods during the day and 7000 kg DM foliage is available on yearly basis, this would result in total excretion at field level of 58, 86 and 108 kg N per ha espectively for treatment 4, 6.5 and 9 h. The results of this experiment show that it is possible to reduce the nitrogen excretion in a grazing system by restricting the grazing time of dairy cows together with restricted indoor feeding while maintaining high foliage intake.
Summary translation
The experiment was conducted at the organic research station Rugballegaard, in Denmark
| EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Time-limited grazing; Nitrogen excretion; Urination frequency; Defecation frequency; Spatial distribution; Time budget |
| Subjects: | Animal husbandry > Production systems > Dairy cattle Environmental aspects > Air and water emissions |
| Research affiliation: | Denmark > AU - Aarhus University > AU, DJF - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences |
| Deposited By: | Oudshoorn, PhD Frank W. |
| ID Code: | 13856 |
| Deposited On: | 04 Aug 2008 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Apr 2013 17:29 |
| Document Language: | English |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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