High vs. Low Producers

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We decided to see if there was a difference in ammonia emission between high verses low producing cows. We did this in order to identify if BMPs need to be more heavily targeted to a specific area of operations.

The Problem
Background
Experimental Methods
Results and Cost Analysis
The Solution

The Problem

The installment of BMPs on dairy farms is an effective way to reduce ammonia emissions, but to get maximum reduction, BMPs should target the areas of greatest ammonia concentration. It is unknown if high producers have a greater ammonia emission rate than low producers. Dietary, housing, and physiological differences between high and low producers might effect the rate of ammonia emissions between the two groups and thus require a more aggressive BMP strategy in different areas of a dairy operation.

Background

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Experimental Method

Method. For this BMP, the treatments focused on ammonia emission concentrations from the manure of high and low producing cows. We utilized production groups already in existence and took measurements within their own environments. Management (i.e. bedding, housing, manure removal rate and time, feeding time, and milking time) was the same between the two groups. The only major difference was that the two groups of cows were fed separate rations (high = X %CP; low = X %CP), which is normal in dairy production.

To compare the two production groups, we measured the ammonia concentration emitted from the manure in the alleyways as well as ambient ammonia levels in the barns using our unique surface emission collector developed at Colorado State University. Sampling took place over two days to ensure that pens were sampled at different times of the day to limit any confounding factors, such as time of day, weather, or animal activity.

Results and Cost Analysis

Results. Coming Fall 2008....

Cost Analysis. Coming Fall 2008....

The Solution

Coming Fall 2008.....