The beef industry is not aware of its role in reactive nitrogen and livestock specifically.
Fundamentally, cattle’s ability to upcycle means that they can convert nutrients and energy into a product that is of nutritional value to humans. The sun’s energy, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the nutrients in the soil provide the same energy as the carbohydrates, fats and micronutrients found in the food we eat.
Dr. Sara Place, Elanco’s Chief Sustainability Officer, stated that agriculture will continue to thrive if we take care of the land, water, and air resources that support it. It is not something you should take lightly when it comes to environmental stewardship in agriculture. The United States has seen significant improvements in its use of natural resources over the past few decades. However, there is still much to be done.
Stewardship includes managing nutrients such as nitrogen in agricultural systems and minimizing the environmental impact. The element of nitrogen is vital for life. It is also a critical component in protein and DNA. It can also be a limiting element in natural ecosystems. This means that more organisms will grow if there is more nitrogen. A high level of nitrogen in the environment can cause nutrient pollution, which can have negative effects on the air and water.1This fact is crucial to the role that agriculture can play in mitigating nutrient-loss.
Nutrient losses are inevitable but they can be managed. How? This is done by increasing the efficiency and recycling of nutrients within the agricultural system.
Let’s take a look at a feedlot for beef cattle to illustrate these principles in relation to nitrogen.
The primary way nitrogen enters the feedlot system is as protein in cattle’s feed. This can be whether the feedstuffs have been grown on-site or bought elsewhere. The cattle eat only about 15% of the nitrogen in the feed. This means that 85% of feed nitrogen is excreted by cattle.2
The manure of an animal can be absorbed by the environment as ammonia gas, N2O, and nitrous oxide (NH3). Manure can be a valuable fertilizer resource. For example, manure applied to cropland can bring back nitrogen that was harvested from a crop.
The nitrogen cycle in the feedlot can be used to recycle nutrients in the agricultural systems. The process is not always efficient. The environment sustainability of agriculture can be improved by reducing nitrogen losses.
Place stated that nutrition is a key factor in minimizing nitrogen losses in animal agriculture. We can, for example, balance diets more precisely to avoid overfeeding nitrogen or increase nitrogen retention.
The animal’s genetic potential and metabolic modifiers can influence the animal’s ability to retain more nitrogen. These are any changes that alter how the animal absorbs nutrients. Metabolic modificators can increase the percentage of feed nitrogen captured in the animal’s muscles, decreasing the animal’s nitrogen excreted and potentially causing environmental losses such as ammonia gas.
Place said that there are many practical ways we can address the environmental issues we face. Knowing the resilience, innovation, and determination of beef producers all over the world, I am certain that we will rise together to meet the challenge to protect our industry for future generations.
You can read more about the role that incentives and innovation play in achieving a more environmentally-conscious food production cycle. Visit www.beef sustainability.org for additional information and resources. www.ExperiorBeef.com.
Experior Safety Information
CautionThis product is not approved for breeding animals, as safety and effectiveness in these animals have not been assessed. Experior should be prohibited from horses and other equines. Some animals may experience a decrease in dry matter intake
The label contains all information about the product, including warnings and cautions. Follow the label’s directions and read everything.
Useful indications: To reduce ammonia gas emissions per kilogram of live weight and hot carcass weight in beef steers or heifers that were kept in confinement for slaughter within the last 14 to 91 day.
Instructions for use:
Feed. Feed.
Based on the available information, it is impossible to predict the ammonia gas emissions on a farm, herd, or larger scale.
1Nutrient Pollution: The Problem. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. [Internet]. [cited 2021 Nov 22]. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/issue
2Cole, NA, Todd, RW. The nitrogen and phosphorous balances of beef cattle feedyards. Proceedings of the Texas Animal Manure Management Issues Conference [Internet]. 2009 Sep 28 [cited 2020 Sept 17]. 243602:17-24. https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=243602
Elanco trademarks include Experior, Elanco, and the logo for the diagonal bars. 2022 Elanco