Life Sciences Commons^™

Efficiency Of Phosphorus Utilization In Dairy Operations (2006), Joseph P. Harner, Michael J. Brouk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Efficient utilization of nutrients is a must on modern dairies. Most of the phosphorus arriving at the dairy will either be found in purchased feedstuffs or commercial fertilizer used to raise grain and forage for the dairy. In general, those dairies that purchase all feeds are more efficient with phosphorus utilization than those that grow forage and grain. This is likely due to increased inefficiencies associ-ated with feeding and crop enterprises. Care-ful evaluation of diets to reduce feeding ex-cess phosphorus can reduce phosphorus excre-tion in the manure by as much as 50%. This not only reduces input costs, but also …