ARS | Publication request: Snap-shot Assessment of Nutrient Use Efficiency on Confinement Dairy Farms

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: June 15, 2009
Publication Date: June 29, 2009
Citation: Powell, J.M. 2009. Snap-shot Assessment of Nutrient Use Efficiency on Confinement Dairy Farms Fact Sheet. US Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin [website]. Available: http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/36553000/pdf's/Nutrient_use_efficiency/snap-shot%20assessment_PDF.pdf. 2009.

Technical Abstract: Escalations in feed and fertilizer cost, and ebbing milk prices are motivating many dairy farmers to find new ways to improve nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on their farms. But how can NUE be determined and monitored easily on dairy farms, and what improvement in NUE can be realistically expected? Such fundamental questions are best addressed by engaging farmers directly in the process of nutrient management research and technology development. This 'Fact Sheet' outlines various procedures that were used to provide ‘snap-shot’ assessments of feed, fertilizer and manure use on a wide range of Wisconsin dairy farms. Some examples are provided of the information obtained using snap-shot assessment techniques.