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Efficient farming systems to improve nutrient utilisation and profitability Conrad Ferris, Martin Mulholland, Elizabeth Ball and Francis Lively 5 th November 2015 Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR,UK
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Background Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for animals (bone, cell structure, energy transfer, milk, meat) Evidence that water quality is beginning to deteriorate with regards P – action is required How do we address the problem? Reduce inorganic P fertiliser use? Lower overall stocking rates ? Better management of manures and slurry, and ‘treatment’ options will all help address this problem? But it would be better if we could reduce the amount of P which is excreted: Reduced P levels in livestock diets Feed less ‘P dense’ components of the diet Improved management and overall efficiency
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Reducing P levels in livestock diets – local research findings pigs and poultry beef and sheep dairy Reducing P surpluses by improving efficiency Overview of presentation
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Historically, overall P levels in diets for growing pigs was above 6 g/kg (fresh) Oversupplied? AFBI conducted a series of studies to investigate the effect of: lowering overall dietary P level the use of phytase in pig diets Reducing P levels in diets for growing pigs
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The effect of lowering dietary P level on growing pig performance and bone strength parameters Control P (6g/kg) Reduced P (5g/kg) Sig. Feed intake (kg/d)1.411.38NS LWG (g/d)793763NS FCR1.811.84NS *Bone weight (g)25.525.4NS *Load (kg)206204NS t Dietary P of 5 g/kg adequate for growing pigs t Problems formulating lower P diets for finishers tBenefits of phytase inclusion also demonstrated, but need to reduce P levels before phytase addition tResearch needed to demonstrate if further reductions are safe, and interactions with phytase
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Reducing dietary P levels for broilers Phytase use is widespread and has reduced the inclusion of inorganic P through increasing the bioavailability of phytate Commercial levels of overall dietary P are 4.6, 4.4 and 3.8 g/kg (fresh) for starter, grower and finisher broilers respectively Can dietary P levels be reduced further? Study conducted to investigate the effect of reducing P levels on performance and bone strength
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The effect of dietary P level on performance of broilers Control P Low P (by 7.5%) Very low P (by 15%) Sig 0-35d DMI (g)258725102611NS 0-35d LWG (g)168216271719NS 0-35d FCR1.5681.5581.537NS Bone* diameter (mm)2.7 NS Load (kg)2.7 2.8NS Dietary P levels can be reduced by 15% Lower P levels need to be commercially validated, and then adopted Scope to reduce levels across other poultry sectors (e.g. Layers, broiler breeders) ? Significant genetic improvements within the poultry sector has substantially reduced P excretions per bird – lessons for other sectors!
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Beef and Sheep sector No local research on P requirements In general, diets are low in P due to low concentrate usage Most farms tend to have lower stocking rates P surpluses generally low But a large number of farms covering a large area of land – cumulative impact Many systems operate at a low level of efficiency
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Relationship between age at slaughter and carcass weight for prime steers (2013) Age at slaughter (months) Carcass weight (kg) Huge potential to improve efficiency within the beef sector, and to reduce the environmental impact of beef systems
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Intensive beef finishing units? In general, individual small beef farms tend to have little impact But what about intensive beef finishing units May account for >10% of cattle finished in NI Often associated with a relatively small land areas Large quantities of by-products are included in rations Little information available on the P content of rations offered These farms may pose a risk to water quality?...insufficient information is available to assess risk!
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Average P level in dairy cow concentrates in NI in 2001 was 6.2 g/kg fresh (7.1 g/kg DM) P was over supplied – but by how much could it be reduced? 4 Year study - 100 dairy cows Diets contained either ‘normal’ or ‘reduced’ levels of P Reducing P levels in dairy cow diets-AFBI research Winter period Normal PReduced PReduction in P (%) Concentrates 6.2 g/kg fr.3.8 g/kg fr.38% Total Diet4.8 g/kg DM3.6 g/kg DM25%
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Normal P 4.8 g/kg DM Reduced P 3.6 g/kg DM Sig. DMI (kg/cow/day)20.319.8NS Milk (kg/cow/day)84858522NS Bone P level (g/kg organic matter) 172171NS Pregnancy rate (%)9283NS Effect of dietary P level on cow performance over lactations 1-4
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How far can total dietary P levels be reduced? Clear evidence of deficiency2.2-2.6 g/kg DM Adequate in some studies, inadequate in others 2.7-3.2 g/kg DM Occasional evidence of inadequacy3.3-3.5 g/kg DM Adequate in virtually all studies3.6-3.7 g/kg DM Over-feeding?>3.8 g/kg DM
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2001Survey of 50 farms6.2 g /kg fresh (7.1 g/kg DM) 2002 - 2007Hillsborough study3.8 g/kg fresh (4.4 g/kg DM) 2005NI Industry target5.7 g/kg fresh (6.6 g/kg DM ) 2015Where the NI industry is at present 5.0 g/kg fresh (5.7 g/kg DM ) How far can we safely reduce the P content of concentrates?
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Can P levels in dairy cow rations be reduced below 5.0 g/kg fresh? Yes But at a cost! P content of silages need to be considered (extremely variable: 1.6 – 4.8 g/kg DM) Lower P concentrates may have a role on some intensive derogated farms Demonstrated in a recent AFBI study involving derogated systems of milk production
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Year round housing Winter housing – summer grazing Concentrate intake (tonnes) 3.52.5 Energy corrected milk (kg) 96008700 Phosphorus balance (kg P/ha) associated with two intensive experimental systems P balance (kg P/ha) 5.40.6 Cost of moving to very low P concentrates (100 cow herd) £2800£2000 Low phosphorus balances are possible – even with intensive high input herds – but at a cost
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Can P levels in dairy cow rations be reduced further? Yes..... But greater gains (economic and environmental) can be made by Making better use of forage, and Tackling inefficiencies in concentrate feeding Milk from forage on Benchmarked farms has fallen by 1500 litres during the last 12 years (1550 litres in 2014) But is milk from forage still important?
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Relationship between milk from forage and common margin ( CAFRE Benchmarking ) Yield band (litres) Top/Bottom 25% for milk from forage Milk from forage (litres) Common margin (£/cow) 5000 – 6000Top3090764 Bottom1610280 7000 – 8000Top2710962 Bottom1405440 >9000Top27501080 Bottom570619 Strong relationship between milk from forage and common margin
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Relationship between milk production and concentrate intake on CAFRE Benchmarked farms (2013-14)
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Most efficient and least efficient quartile of farms within each yield bracket (6000 – 10000 l)
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Calculated P balance on Benchmarked farms (kg P per Ha) Most efficientLeast efficient 6000 – 7000 litres Effect of concentrate use efficiency on P balance within each yield band 7000 – 8000 litres 8000 – 9000 litres 9000 – 10000 litres 3.612.6 6.416.5 9.0 17.9 12.7 19.8 Huge potential to improve P use efficiency and improve profitability by improving whole farm efficiency What are the factors that differ between the most and least efficient farms?
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Getting more from forage Achieving optimum yields: Grass varieties Soil pH and drainage Nutrient management, including N Improve silage quality: Silage quality has not improved in last 20 years! High quality silage offers real potential to reduce concentrate use Grazing management :Turnout date Pre and post grazing targets Measuring and take action Confidence in grass High quality forages offer real potential to reduce concentrate use, to reduce P inputs and to improve farm profit
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Manage concentrate feeding How important is concentrate allocation strategy? Feed-to- yield Complete diet Sig. Milk yield (kg/d)38.039.3NS Milk fat + protein yield (kg/day) 3.03.1NS Greater spread in performance with feed-to-yield type systems But mean performance unaffected by system – at a given stage of lactation
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Key issues to consider Getting concentrate level correct is critical Targets concentrates to cows that will respond If TMR feeding – batching is critical Feed-to-yield systems allow ‘precision’ to be brought to feeding Establish M+ levels Calibrate feeding systems Check computer settings – 0.45 kg concentrate/litre milk Supplement for energy corrected milk, not milk volume Precision technologies offer opportunity for improved efficiency
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Conclusions Significant progress on pig and poultry side in terms of nutrition and efficiency – potential to improve further? Room for improvement in beef sector, especially in overall efficiency P levels in dairy cow concentrates can be reduced further – but at a cost Improved P efficiency possible through improved forage quality and concentrate supplementation strategies – with potential to improve profitability The whole livestock sector must continue to reduce its P footprint
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