Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T09:54:57.769Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improving the nutrient status of a commercial dairy farm: An integrated approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Derek H. Lynch ,
Rupert W. Jannasch ,
Alan H. Fredeen  and
Ralph C. Martin
Derek H. Lynch*
Affiliation:
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) located at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC), PO Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia, CanadaB2N 5E3
Rupert W. Jannasch
Affiliation:
Resource Efficient Agricullural Production (REAP), Box 126, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, CanadaH9X 3V9
Alan H. Fredeen
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Animal Science, NSAC, PO Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia, CanadaB2N 5E3.
Ralph C. Martin
Affiliation:
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) located at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC), PO Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia, CanadaB2N 5E3
*
D.H. Lynch (dlynch@nsac.ns.ca)
Get access

Abstract

Minimizing nutrient surpluses and improving efficiency of nutrient use are key challenges for all dairy farming production systems, driven by economic, environmental and increasing regulatory constraints. Our study examined the efficiency of N, P and K use on a commercial dairy farm through an integrated approach that evaluated the nutrient status of all aspects of the production system of the case-study farm, a 75 lactating Holstein cow dairy in Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada. During the decade after 1988, the farm owner implemented a series of changes in production practices, including diversification of the crop rotation, implementation of a management intensive grazing (MIG) regime and adoption of a systematic approach to soil and nutrient management. Milk production, and associated farm exports of N, P and K, increased by 666 kg cow−1 between 1990 and 2000. Purchases of N-P-K fertilizers were eliminated in 1990 and feed nutrient imports were dramatically reduced. Feed costs per liter of milk declined from 14.3 cents (CDN) liter−1 in 1990–92 to 11.6 cents liter−1 in 1998–2000, even as feed prices increased regionally by 10–20% over the same period. Modeling of current whole farm mass N, P and K balance indicated that 25.0% of all N inputs are recovered inform products, milk and meat. Non-legume-derived field N input (67kg Nha−1 before losses) was close to optimum for the predominantly legume/grass-based forage cropping system. Model-determined annual farm nutrient surpluses (outputs-inputs) for P (9.0kgha−1 yr−1) and K (8.2 kg ha−1 yr−1) were significantly lower than those previously reported for regional confinement-based dairy farms, which were more reliant on corn production. However, data from 16 years of soil analysis (1985–2001) indicated an increase in soil-test P levels of approximately 2 mg kg−1 yr−1. Recent refinements in dairy animal dietary P levels have further reduced the farm P surplus (2.6 kg ha−1 in year 2001) and are shown as key to a strategy for reversal of the trend in soil-test P levels. In summary, the combined approach of whole-farm system nutrient management, crop diversification and MIG increased milk production and minimized costs while reducing farm nutrient inputs. The study demonstrates how an approach to dairy farm nutrient management which integrates livestock and crop nutrient requirements may reduce dairy farm nutrient loading while maintaining productivity.

Keywords

animal nutritiondairymanagement intensive grazingnutrient budgets
Type
Research Article
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , September 2003 , pp. 137 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ADLIG. 2001. Official Annual Summaries by Province-All Breeds. Atlantic Dairy Livestock Improvement Corporation, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.Google Scholar
Anderson, B.H., and Magdoff, F.R.. 2000. Dairy farm characteristics and managed flows of phosphorus. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 15:19–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anonymous. 1991. Atlantic Provinces Field Crop Guide. Publication No. 100. Atlantic Provinces Agricultural Services Committee, Kentville, Nova Scotia.Google Scholar
Barry, D.A.J., Goorahoo, D., and Goss, M.J.. 1993. Estimation of nitrate concentrations in groundwater using a whole farm nitrogen budget. Journal of Environmental Quality 22:767–775.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beegle, D.B., Carton, D., and Bailey, J.S.. 2000. Nutrient management planning: Justification, theory, practice. Journal of Environmental Quality 29:72–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, D.M. 1978. Heat Units for Com in Southern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Queens Printer for Ontario, Toronto, Ontario.Google Scholar
Brown, L., Scholfield, D., Jewkes, E.C., Preedy, N., Wadge, K., and Butler, M.. 2000. The effect of sulfur application on the efficiency of nitrogen use in two contrasting grassland soils. Journal of Agricultural Science 135:131–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, E.A., Buchanan-Smith, J.G., and Weise, S.T.. 1993. Intensively managed pasture in the Great Lakes Basin: A future-oriented review. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 73:725–747.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franzlubbers, A.J., Stuedemann, J.A., Schomberg, H.H., and Wilkinson, S.R.. 2000. Soil organic C and N pools under long-term pasture management in the Southern Piedmont USA. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 32:469–478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fredeen, A.H., Astatkie, T., Jannasch, R.W., and Martin, R.C.. 2002. Productivity of grazing Holstein cows in Atlantic Canada. Journal of Dairy Science 85:1331–1338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hanson, G.D., Cunningham, L.C., Ford, S.A., Muller, L.D., and Parsons, R.L.. 1998. Increasing intensity of pasture use with dairy cattle: An economic analysis. Journal of Production in Agriculture 11:175–179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haydock, K., and Shaw, N.. 1975. The comparative yield method for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 15:663–669.Google Scholar
Hutchings, N.J., and Kristensen, I.S.. 1995. Modeling mineral nitrogen accumulation in grazed pasture: Will more nitrogen leach from fertilized grass than unfertilized grass/clover? Grass and Forage Science 50:300–313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutson, J.L., Pitt, R.E., Koelsch, R.K., Houser, J.B., and Wagnet, R.J.. 1998. Improving dairy farm sustainability II: Environmental losses and nutrient flows. Journal of Production in Agriculture 11:233–239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarvis, S.C., Wilkins, R.J., and Pain, B.F.. 1996. Opportunities for reducing the environmental impact of dairy farming managements: A systems approach. Grass and Forage Science 51:21–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones-Endsley, J.M., Cecava, M.J., and Johnson, T.R.. 1997. Effects of dietary supplementation on nutrient digestion and the milk yield of intensively grazed lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 80:3283–3292.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kelling, K.A., and Matocha, J.E.. 1990. Plant analysis as an aid in fertilizing forage crops. In Westerman, R.L. (ed.). Soil Testing and Plant Analysis. Book Series Publication, Number 3, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
Klausner, S. 1995. Nutrient management planning. In Steele, K. (ed.) Animal Waste and the Land-Water Interface. Lewis Publishers, New York. p. 383–391.Google Scholar
Klausner, S.D., Fox, D.G., Rasmussen, C.N., Pitt, R.E., Tylutki, T.P., Wright, P.E., Chase, L.E., and Stone, W.C.. 1998. Improving dairy farm sustainability I: An approach to animal and crop nutrient management planning. Journal of Production in Agriculture 11:225–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knowlton, K.F., Herbein, J.H., Meister-Weisbarth, M.A., and Wark, W.A.. 2001. Nitrogen and phosphorus partitioning in lactating holstein cows fed different sources of dietary protein and phosphorus. Journal of Dairy Science 84:1210–1217.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laws, J.A., Pain, B.F., Jarvis, S.C., and Scholfield, D.. 2000. Comparison of grassland management systems for beef cattle using self-contained farmlets: Effects of contrasting nitrogen inputs and management strategies on nitrogen budgets, and herbage and animal production. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 80:243–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leach, K.A., Bax, J.A., Roberts, D.J., and Thomas, C.. 2000. The establishment and performance of a dairy system based on perennial ryegrass-white clover swards compared with a system based on nitrogen fertilized grass. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 17:207–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Main, M. 2001. Development and application of the Atlantic Dairy Sustainability Model (ADSM) to evaluate effects of pasture utilization, crop input levels, and milk yields on sustainability of dairying in maritime Canada. MSc Thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.Google Scholar
Maynard, L.A., Loosli, J.K., Hintz, H.F., and Warner, R.G.. 1979. Animal Nutrition. McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Murphy, B. 1998. Greener Pastures on Your Side of the Fence. Arriba Publishing, Colchester, Vermont.Google Scholar
NSDAF. 1999. The Nova Scotia Handbook of Agricultural Statistics. Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Halifax, Nova Scotia.Google Scholar
Oenema, O., Velthof, G.L., Yamulki, S., and Jarvis, S.C.. 1997. Nitrous oxide emissions from grazed grassland. Soil Use and Management 13:288–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
OMAF. 1985. Manure Characteristics. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Queens Printer for Ontario, Toronto, Ontario.Google Scholar
Paine, L.K., Undersander, D., and Casier, M.D., 1999. Pasture growth, production and quality under rotational and continuous grazing management. Journal of Production in Agriculture 12:569–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papadopolous, Y., Kunelius, T., and Fredeen, A.H.. 1993. Factors influencing pasture productivity in Atlantic Canada. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 73:699–713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, W.J., Muller, L.D., and Buckmaster, D.R.. 1992. Management and economic implications of intensive grazing on dairy farms in the northeastern states. Journal of Dairy Science 75:2587–2597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, J.W., and Beauchamp, E.G.. 1995. Nitrogen flow on two livestock farms in Ontario: A simple model to evaluate strategies to improve N utilization. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 5:35–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Powell, J.M., Wu, Z., and Satter, L.D.. 2001. Dairy diet effects on phosphorus cycles of cropland. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 56:22–26.Google Scholar
Rotz, C.A., Satter, L.D., Mertens, D.R., and Muck, R.E.. 1999. Feeding strategy, nitrogen cycling and profitability of dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science 82:2841–2855.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmit, T.M., and Knoblauch, W.A.. 1995. The impact of nutrient loading restrictions on dairy farm profitability. Journal of Dairy Science 78:1267–1281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shelby, M.E., and Sandman, L.. 1997. Nutrient Management; An Information Source for Dairy Farmers. Dairy Network Partnership, Southhampton, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Sims, J.T. 1995. Characteristics of animal wastes and waste-amended soils: an overview of the agricultural and environmental issues. In Steele, K. (ed.). Animal Waste and the Land-Water Interface. Lewis Publishers, New York. p. 1–14.Google Scholar
Stout, W.L., Weaver, S.R., Gburek, W.J., Folmar, G.J., and Schnabel, R.R.. 2000. Water quality implications of dairy slurry applied to cut pastures in the northeast USA. Soil Use and Management 16:189–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, S.L., Sheffield, R.E., Washburn, S.P., King, L.D., and Green, J.T. Jr., 2001. Spatial and time distribution of dairy cattle excreta in an intensive pasture system. Journal of Environmental Quality 30:2180–2187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, Z., Satter, L.D., Blohowiak, A.J., Stauffacher, R.H., and Wilson, J.H.. 2001. Milk production, estimated phosphorus excretion, and bone characteristics of dairy cows fed different amounts of phosphorus for two or three years. Journal of Dairy Science 84:1738–1748.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yiridoe, E.K., and Weersink, A.. 1998. Marginal abatement costs of reducing groundwater-N pollution with intensive and extensive farm management choices. Resource Economics Review 27:169–185.Google Scholar