Feeding the world’s growing population
New Zealand’s reputation as a quality food producer is growing.
The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand promotes and encourages responsible and scientifically-based nutrient management.
Nutrient distribution and behaviour of livestock in an intensively managed dairy system
PhD Enterprise Scholarship – Ina Draganova
Completed June 2013
Introduction
Research suggests that on farms the major source of nutrient loss is animal excreta, which for nitrogen (N) relates to cattle urine in particular. Most models used to predict N cycling and loss assume homogeneous distribution of bovine urine patches across paddocks. This study aims to provide baseline understanding of how dairy cows distribute urine, in regard to activity patterns and several environmental factors, by using sensor technologies to investigate the patterns of excreta distribution from dairy cows under commercial conditions.
