1. 1 Nutrient Planning for Sustainability Back-grounding Cattle – Grazing Dann J. Bolinger – Lyndon L. Kelley Michigan State University Extension

2. 2 Basis of Planning Maintain economic viability and profitability of farm business Protect the environment –Surface water –Groundwater –Air quality Nutrients of primary concern –Nitrogen: leaching, volatilization –Phosphorus: run-off, leaching

3. 3 N:P – corn uptake vs. manure Corn UptakeManure N:P2.51.32 (as excreted) 0.66 (field applied) Overall result: if we apply based on crop uptake of actual field N, we will overapply P. Corn2.5/0.66 = 3.8X That’s a phosphorus excess of about 150 lb/A!

4. 4 Raising and Lowering Soil P  10 – 20 lbs of excess P 2 O 5 /A to raise bray P 1 soil test one lb/A.  10 – 20 lbs of crop removal P 2 O 5 /A to lower bray P 1 soil test one lb/A. (Most Michigan crop rotations average ~50 lb/A crop removal, so soil test goes down only ~5-10 lb/A/year – at best.) Easy and fast to raise, hard & slow to lower!

5. 5 Fundamental nutrient question: Is my farm concentrating nutrients?

6. 6 National Level Mass Nutrient Balance

7. Manure P vs. crop land P use < 25% 25 - 50% 50 - 100% >100%

8. Manure P vs. crop land P use < 25% 25 - 50% 50 - 100% >100%

9. Manure P vs. crop land P use < 25% 25 - 50% 50 - 100% >100%

10. 10 State and County Level Mass Nutrient Balance

13. 13 Nutrient Concentration… National level Regional level Community level Farm level Field level

14. 14 Farm Level Nutrient Balance

15. 15 Indicators of Nutrient Imbalance Animals per acre thumb rules Less than one acre per animal unit Soil P increasing with time High soil P levels Majority of feed protein and P comes from off-farm sources These are neither exact nor reliable!

16. Feed Manure Animals Manure Nutrients Crop Nutrients Soil Land Application Nutrient Uptake

17. 17 Estimating Nutrient Balance Estimate crop nutrient removal –Based on crop specific removal rate and yield Estimate manure nutrient production –Records of manure production and analysis –Book excretion values (MWPS-18, table 6) –Mass balance (inputs vs. outputs)

18. 18 Manure Nutrient Production Records of manure production and analysis Pros: –farm specific Cons: –Inadequate records before CNMP implementation –Difficult to get truly representative manure analysis –Weather variables impact volumes and analysis Frequently Inaccurate! (Manure GAAMP says do not use)

19. 19 Manure Nutrient Production Book excretion values (MWPS-18, table 6) Pros: –Simple to calculate (no records required) –Constant values Cons: –Not farm specific –Book values not always representative (+/- 30%, unknown performance level or nutrition of animals in data set) New data in progress

20. 20 Estimating nutrients produced by an operation. - Book values for nutrients produced, multiplied by animal numbers. Several sources of values exist: “Midwest Plan Service Book - 18” is most commonly referenced. Referenced data needs to match or be adjusted to an account for difference between the operation and the description of the values referenced (animals size, production, feed types, etc.).

21. 21 Estimating nutrients produced by an operation - Dairy - Book values for nutrients produced, multiplied by animal numbers and days on feed. Animal descriptionNumberlbs P 2 O 5 per daylbs P 2 O 5 per year 750 lbs dairy heifer 100.072,556 1200 lbs horses 2.1180 Total2,636

22. 22 Manure Nutrient Production Mass balance: phosphorus

23. 23 Principles of Mass Balance 1.Elements are neither created nor destroyed. 2.Elements which enter a system either exit the system or are stored (soil or dead space of storage). 3.The composition of animal products – meat, milk, eggs, etc. – are relatively constant regardless of diet. (Diet can affect flavor, odor, etc.)

24. Feed Manure Animals Manure Nutrients Crop Nutrients Soil Land Application Nutrient Uptake

25. Purchased Fertilizer Grown Feed Manure Animals Manure Nutrients Crop Nutrients Soil Land Application Leaching Purchased Feeds Nutrient Uptake Crop Sales Animal Sales Field Runoff Bedding Mortalities Ration Milk Sales Purchased Animals Facility Losses Leachate Losses

26. Animals Manure Nutrients Animal Sales Bedding Mortalities Ration Milk Sales Ration P – Net Product P = Manure P Animal Mass Balance Purchased Animals Facility Losses Manure

27. 27 Manure Nutrient Production Mass Balance Pros: –Farm specific –Nutrient consumption is best predictor of excretion Cons: –Whole farm mass balance can be difficult and complicated –Ration on paper not always what is actually fed –Rations corresponding animal group sizes, and animal performance change over time Useful when book values are not representative!

28. 28 Whole Farm Balance Crop Nutrients Manure Nutrients

29. 29 GOAL: Crop nutrient removal equals or exceeds manure nutrient production 1.Long-term (farm level) 2.Crop rotation cycle (field level)

30. 30 Whole Farm Balance Strategies for Sustainability Credit manure nutrients –Minimize purchased fertilizers –Apply manure where needed Increase available land for spreading –Easement, rental, purchase of more acres Move nutrients off farm – sell, give-away Optimize Feed P and N Inputs –Do not exceed animal requirements –Improve nutrient availability to animals

31. 31 Optimizing Feed P Inputs High excretion P (two primary reasons) –P fed in excess of nutrient requirement of animal –Limited availability of P to animal Common P form in grains has low availability Over feed P to compensate

32. 32 Phosphorus Essential for skeletal system development Generally low availability –Phytate is not available to animals –Feedstuffs: 60-75% of P is phytate Corn grain – 12% available Soybean meal – 23-30% available Wheat – 50% available Dicalcium phosphate – 100% available –Unavailable and unabsorbed P is excreted

33. 33 Phytase Enzyme that makes phytate P available –Also may improve availability of other minerals and improve utilization of protein and energy Animals do not produce their own phytase –Ruminants (cattle, sheep) get phytase produced by symbiotic bacteria in rumen –Monogastrics (swine, poultry) have no natural source of phytase

34. 34 Phosphorus Nutrition Natural rumen phytase may be inadequate for high feed intake cows Tend to overfeed phosphorus –Some excess to offset limited availability –More excess for unsupported performance claims

35. 35 Overfeeding of P P is 2 nd most expensive nutrient to supplement in cattle rations. Most nutritionists also sell feed.

36. 36 Three types of information that may be available on the farm and used for phosphorus balance for the livestock operation. 1.Daily ration fed multiplied by the number of animals fed and the number of days fed. 2.Total pounds of each ration fed over a noted time period. 3.Disappearance or annual totals of inputs used. Each livestock operations record needs to be reviewed to decide the best input side record to use for the calculation.

37. 37 Estimating nutrients produced by an operation. -Phosphorus balance for the livestock operation or whole farm. Not all phosphorus is the same. Elemental phosphorus (P)/0.44 = P 2 O 5 Elemental phosphorus (P) = 0.44 * P 2 O 5

38. 38 Estimating nutrients produced by a operation. -Phosphorus Input /Output Balance FeedQuantity (lbs)Phosphorus Content Total Phosphorus (lbs) Corn45,000.003135 Grass hay80,000.0023184 Calf supplement17,000.010170 Total 489 Mr. Smith Back-grounds 100 head of holstein each fall through early spring. In addition to Grazing corn stalks, cover crops he fed 45,000 lbs of corn, 40 ton grass hay and 8.5 ton calf supplement. 489 /.44 =1,111 lbs. P 2 O 5

39. 39 Nutrients retained by animals AnimalPK Beef0.00700.002 Dairy0.00700.002 Pork0.00720.002 Layers0.00600.002 Broilers0.00600.002 Turkeys0.00600.002 Milk0.0009* Eggs0.0021 Source: MWPS-18; LPES Guide * Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, NRC 2001 100 calves with a end wt. 1,000 lbs -start wt. of 500 lbs = 50,000 lbs gain 50,000 lbs X 0.007 = 350 lbs P 350 lbs P /.44 = 795 lbs P 2 O 5

40. 40 Calculating Nutrient Applied Total P 2 O 5 fed - total P 2 O 5 in weight sold = total lbs P 2 O 5 in manure 1,111 lbs P 2 O 5. - 795 lbs P 2 O 5 = 316 lbs P 2 O 5 total lbs P 2 O 5 in manure / Gazed on 500 acre = Net l bs P 2 O 5 acres supplied 316 lbs P 2 O 5 /500 acre =.63 lbs P 2 O 5 /acres 100 head holstein calves affect on phosphorus levels.

41. 41 Calculating Average Crop Removal Total lbs of purchased P fed + pasture P content P build up + pasture P removal = 1,111 lbs P 2 O 5 Fed = 316 Net lbs P 2 O 5 - P removal By calf sales - 795 lbs P 2 O 5 Sold

42. 42 Calculating Average Crop Removal Year (1000 acre farm) Corn acres Whole farm ave. corn yield (bu) Soybean acres Whole farm ave. Soybean yield (bu) 199835012015055 199935013515067 200035013015060 200125012525053 200225014025065 5 year average3,100130 bu19060 bu

43. 43 Calculating Average Crop Removal Corn 310 acres * 130 Bu. * 0.35 lbs P 2 O 5 / Bu. = 14,105 lbs P 2 O 5 Soys 190 acres * 60 Bu. * 0.88 lbs P 2 O 5 / Bu. = 10,032 lbs P 2 O 5 28,210 +20,064 = 24,137 lbs of P 2 O 5 removal 24,137 lbs P 2 O 5 / 500 acres = 48 lbs/acre of P 2 O 5 (average P 2 O 5 removal) P 2 O 5 removal rates from MSU Bulletin E-550a

44. 44 Animal Mass Balance Horse Example

45. 45 Estimating nutrients produced by a operation. -Phosphorus balance – horse example Horse example- Mr. Randel pastures three horses on a five, one acre paddocks. He spreads the winter accumulation of manure from the barn and from around the feeders back onto the pasture. In addition to the pasture production Mr. Randels feed annually: 1,100 lbs of manufactured horse feed, with a P content of.003 9,000 lbs grass/alfalfa hay, with a P content of.0023

46. 46 Estimating nutrients produced by a operation. -Phosphorus Input /Output Balance FeedQuantityPhosphorus Content Total Phosphorus Manufacture horse feed 1,100.0033.3 Grass/alfalfa hay 9,000.002320.7 Total24 lbs P or 47 lbs P 2 O 5

47. 47 Nutrients retained by animals AnimalPK Beef0.00700.002 Dairy0.00700.002 Pork0.00720.002 Layers0.00600.002 Broilers0.00600.002 Turkeys0.00600.002 Milk0.0009* Eggs0.0021 Source: MWPS-18; LPES Guide * Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, NRC 2001 Animals with no weight increase, provide no P removal Animals that never leave the farm provide no P removal A 800 lb yearling foal sold each year will remove 5.6 lbs P annually (800 lbs X.007 = 5.6 lbs P )

48. 48 Calculating Average Crop Removal (One acre pasture lot) Total lbs of purchased P fed + pasture P content P Net applied + pasture P removal = 47 lbs P 2 O 5 fed = 47 lbs P 2 O 5 Net applied Assuming a 10/1 soil P test build-up ratio, bray 1 P soil test level will increase about 5 lb/year.

49. 49 Nutrient Planning for Sustainability Summary Determine t otal nutrients produced -P is most often the limiting factor Determine your average crop removal Determine the crop base needed to utilize nutrient produced -Divide total nutrients produced by average crop removal Compare your actual spread able acre to crop base needed. -If you’re short on land base, start making adjustments.

50. 50 Nutrient Planning for S ummary ( continued ) Compare your actual spread-able acre to crop base needed. -If you’re short on land base, start making adjustments. Increase yields Increase spread-able acre. Rent, trade acre, spreading agreements Lower phosphorus inputs – feed less P Move phases of production – heifer or dry cow to another farm