S ome on-farm research is aimed at answering those questions. I nstead of focusing on waste management after it's exited the cow, this state and federally funded project is targeted toward discovering whether modifying cow phosphorus and nitrogen intake can affect these nutrient levels in manure and farm runoff.
Researchers believe it's possible to increase the efficiency of N and P use in cows.
We're attempting to verify the research which says this is possible. T he studies to which she refers indicates that excess N and P are excreted whenever excess intake occurs or the nutrients are used inefficiently. The excess nutrients appear in milk urea content and animal waste. When nutrient need and nutrient use are balanced, the amount excreted decreases. W e're focusing on nitrogen and phosphorus with this work, because they are critical in current and future water quality regulations, as well as land application requirements.