Presentation Transcript
Cattle Production and the Environment : Cattle Production and the Environment Departments of Animal Science, Biological & Agricultural Engineering & Crop Science
Slide3 : Swine and Beef Systems: Need close management to ensure that nutrients are overloaded, leading to surface or groundwater contamination.
Environmental Degradation by Cattle : Environmental Degradation by Cattle Damage to stream, pond, river banks
Erosion, sediment loading, increased turbidity
Direct deposition of feces & urine
Nutrients (N & P)
Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Nutrient enrichment of surface and ground waters
Pasture Production Systems : Pasture Production Systems We grow grass to harvest nutrients
Meat, milk and hay
Healthy crop/forage production is essential to proper waste utilization
Seasonal variations
Crop variations
Establishment
Weed Control
Grazing and harvest considerations
Overview : Overview Nutrient Cycling
Nutrient and Waste Application
Insuring Proper Harvest and Regrowth
Water Quality and Stream Protection
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling Inputs Feed
Nutrients
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling Inputs Feed
Nutrients Outputs Meat
Milk
Hay
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling Inputs Feed
Nutrients Outputs Meat
Milk
Hay Mineralization
Plant Uptake
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling Inputs Feed
Nutrients Outputs Meat
Milk
Hay NO3 - Leaching Mineralization
Plant Uptake
Nutrient Cycling : Nutrient Cycling Inputs Feed
Nutrients Outputs Meat
Milk
Hay NO3 - Leaching NH3 - Volatilization Mineralization
Plant Uptake
Waste & Nutrient Application : Waste & Nutrient Application Nutrient Application
emphasize uniform application
Crop Growth
insures uniform nutrient uptake
Grazing and Harvest
nutrient utilization and removal
Harvest and Vegetation Re-growth : Harvest and Vegetation Re-growth Grazing Program
Soil Fertility
Nutrients & Wastes
Farm Layout
Grazing Program : Grazing Program Program Goal
Grazing Method
continuous, rotational stocking, strip grazing
achieve different goals
crop utilization & re-growth
manure distribution
management
Soil Fertility : Soil Fertility Soil Testing
yearly on field that receive applications of animal waste
representative samples
15-20 cores for every 20 acres
Lime Application
Nutrient application recommendations
Nutrients and Wastes : Nutrients and Wastes Waste Sampling
60 days from application date
representative sample
Application
agronomic rates for N
application rate
timing
application method
Nutrient and Wastes: Application & Distribution : Nutrient and Wastes: Application & Distribution Spreader Calibration
Application rates
Spreader uniformity
Waste distribution
control access
heavy use areas
water sources
shade
Farm Layout : Farm Layout Pasture Subdivision
more flexibility
allows for rotational stocking
more control of harvest
requires appropriate fencing
requires additional water sources
Travel Lanes
Farm Layout : Farm Layout Water Sources
Streams and Ponds
stream crossings
limited access ramps
Pressurized water systems
Gravity flow systems
Ram pumps
Solar pumps
Water Quality : Water Quality Cattle can adversely effect water quality
sediment
nutrients
oxygen demand (BOD)
pathogens
bacteria
viruses
protozoans
Water Quality : Water Quality Potential groundwater impacts
Heavy use areas
Over application of nutrients/wastes
Dramatically effected by soil type
Herd Health Problems : Herd Health Problems Spread of water borne diseases
Bovine & human concern
Bacteria (Brucellosis, Tuberculosis)
Parasites (Cryptosporidium)
Mastitis
Foot Rot
Leg injuries
Off-Stream Water Sources for Grazing Cattle : Off-Stream Water Sources for Grazing Cattle Why do cattle go to streams?
Simplistic answer - To get water.
Then... If we provide water away from the stream, will we reduce the amount of pollution caused by cattle?
Can these “improvements” in water quality be made without fencing streambanks?
Review of Research : Review of Research Miner et al. (1994) observed hay-fed cattle
8 day-long observations in December
90% reduction in the time which cattle spent drinking from the stream when a water trough was made available
Hypothesized subsequent reductions in fecal bacteria loading to stream
Study Objectives : Study Objectives Within pasture systems which do and do not utilize streams as the primary water source…
Compare cattle behavior
Estimate and compare stream bank erosion
Estimate and compare stream nutrient and fecal bacteria concentrations
Cattle Preference for Off-Stream Water Sources : Cattle Preference for Off-Stream Water Sources % of Herd 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 5:30 9:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 Trough Stream
Total Suspended Solids : Total Suspended Solids
Total Nitrogen : Total Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus : Total Phosphorus
Fecal Coliform : Fecal Coliform
Fecal Streptococci : Fecal Streptococci
Slide33 : Pre-BMP: After 202 cows and 200 calves for 5 days; no trough - only water was the stream
Slide34 : Post-BMP: After 150 cow & 150 calves for 4 days; cattle had access to both trough and stream
ConclusionsCattle utilizing off-stream water sources, within rotational stocking systems, found to... : Conclusions Cattle utilizing off-stream water sources, within rotational stocking systems, found to... Prefer to drink from water troughs 92% of the time compared to drinking from the stream
Reduce streambank erosion rates by 77%
ConclusionsPresence of off-stream water sources, within rotational stocking systems, found to... : Conclusions Presence of off-stream water sources, within rotational stocking systems, found to... Reduce concentrations of TSS and sediment-bound pollutants
TSS (96%), TN ( 56%), NH4 (77%), N sed. (48%), TP (98%), P sed. (92%)
Reduce concentrations of fecal coliform and fecal streptococci (51% & 77%)
Water Requirements : Water Requirements Gallons of water per head each day.
Farm Pond Development : Gravel Alley with Geotextile Fabric Alley width = 4’ ** Do not extend alley more than 2.5’into pond Farm Pond Development Allows cattle access to pond while minimizing their impact.
Spring Developments : Spring Developments Utilizes existing springs
24 hr flow
Low maintenance
Limited to site slope and topography
Can support several troughs in series
Nose Pumps : Nose Pumps Works on animal power
Satisfies 30-40 cows
Can deliver water up to 300’ away from stream
Can be used with quick-couple system for mobility
Solar Pumps : Solar Pumps Uses sunlight to pump water
Can support large flows (gpd)
Only works when sun is shining
Used independent or in conjunction with other water systems Pond, Stream or Well Min. 3 days storage
Ram Pumps : Ram Pumps No power requirement
Motorless
Requires 3’ (min.) of stream fall
Around the clock water at low flow rates
Site-specific performance
Ram Pumps - Design : Ram Pumps - Design
Sling Pumps : Sling Pumps No rower requirement
Performance is dependant on stream velocity, volume and depth
Works in low slope areas - alternative to Ram Pumps
Pressurized Water Systems : Pressurized Water Systems May be more economical than alternative water systems
Can be used with “quick-couples” to minimize cost and increase flexibility
Installed underground or seasonal “above ground”
Stream Bank Exclusions : Stream Bank Exclusions May be necessary in places to protect water resources
Heavy use areas
Water use protection
Riparian buffers
establishment
enhancement
Can be established economically
Slide47 : Do these heifers need to be here?
Stream Bank Exclusions : Stream Bank Exclusions Quick re-growth of stream bank vegetation
Existing “seed bank”
Bank stabilization
Sediment capture
Nutrient and pathogen treatment
Stream Bank Buffers : Stream Bank Buffers Nutrient and pathogen treatment
capture
adsorption
degradation
denitrification
Waste Application Areas
Heavy Use Areas
Grazing Areas
Vegetation Control in Buffers : Vegetation Control in Buffers Mechanical harvest or control
Chemical Control
spot applications
watch drift into water
Short Duration Grazing
Short-Duration Grazing : Short-Duration Grazing Treat stream area as a pasture
High intensity grazing
1/2 to 1 day duration
Dry periods only
Provide off-stream water source
Cattle and Water Quality : Cattle and Water Quality Water Degradation
Water Development
Importance of Streambank Protection
Cattle Production and the Environment : Cattle Production and the Environment Departments of Animal Science, Biological & Agricultural Engineering & Crop Science
For more information, contact:
Ron Sheffield, Bio & Ag Enginering, ron_sheffield@ncsu.edu
Matt Poore, Animal Science, matt_poore@ncsu.edu
Jim Green, Crop Science, jim_green@ncsu.edu
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