Why Research Nitrogen In Swine Diets and How Does It Relate to Climate Change?
Channel: Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Community
Date: 2014-09-17

For more: http://www.extension.org/71196 Pig diets are balanced very carefully to provide the animal with enough nutrients, like protein, but also to create a diet that is as cost-effective as possible. Crystalline amino acids (amino acids are the building blocks of protein) have allowed swine nutritionists to meet the pig's needs for amino acids without overfeeding protein. Why is this important? Reducing the crude protein in the diet while still meeting amino acid requirements reduces the nitrogen excreted in manure. This can help with nutrient management planning when the manure is spread on crop land. It can also potentially reduce the amount of nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) released during storage and land application.