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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #394665
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Crop and Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems at Multiple Scales

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Is there a ‘sweet spot’ for reducing nutrient losses from different dairy systems

Author
item MCDOWELL, RICHARD - Agresearch
item Rotz, Clarence - Al
item OENEMA, JOUKE - University Of Wageningen
item MACLNTOSH, KATRINA - Dairy Nz, Ltd

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2022
Publication Date: 11/30/2022
Citation: Mcdowell, R., Rotz, C.A., Oenema, J., Maclntosh, K. 2022. Is there a ‘sweet spot’ for reducing nutrient losses from different dairy systems[abstract]. Meeting Abstract. p. 1.

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required for this Abstract Only. JLB.

Technical Abstract: The demand for dairy produce is growing alongside concerns about the impact of dairying on water quality due to nutrient loss. Pasture based and grass-fed branding is used to justify product premiums based on consumer perceptions of improved human health as well as better environmental performance and animal welfare. We contrasted global observational (n = 156) data for losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from land to water by the duration of outdoor grazing: <2, = 9, and between 3-8 months, corresponding to grazed, confined, and partially housed hybrid systems. Observational N losses for confined systems were lowest on a productivity basis (g kg-1 fat and protein corrected milk) but not on an area basis. No differences were noted for P losses between the systems. Modelling of the three dairy systems in New Zealand, United States, and the Netherlands using the Integrated Farm System Model yielded similar results. We found insufficient evidence that grazed dairy as a system reduces nutrient losses compared to confined systems. We suggest that the use of a hybrid system may allow for duration-controlled grazing, uniform distribution of stored excreta during periods of low nutrient loss risk, controlled dietary intake, and the mitigation of animal welfare issues during weather extremes.