Influence of the fertilization type, the day in the paddock and the month on nitrogen rejections in dairy cows

Influence of the fertilization type, the day in the paddock and the month on nitrogen rejections in dairy cows. The present study aims to quantify nitrogen (N) rejections in dairy cows on a rotational grazing system with different types of fertilization (compost, slurry and mineral N) at two different days in the paddock (days 3 and 5) and during two different periods (June and September). Grass yield and height were measured along with the chemical composition. The live weight was recorded when the cows moved into the paddock and milk yields was recorded at each milking. N intakes were measured on the basis of the energy requirement. When the cows were in the paddocks, individual samples of faeces and urine were collected to assess N rejections. The urea content in milk from the tank or from the individual cows was also measured. N intake was higher on day 3 than on day 5 and in September as compared with in June but was not influenced by the fertilization. The amount of N produced in milk was not influenced either by the fertilization, by the day on the paddock or by the month. The amount of urinary N was significantly higher in the N mineral group than in the two other groups. The N excretion in faeces and urines was higher on day 3 than on day 5. In June, the N excretion by the urine was lower than in September while the N excretion by the faeces was higher. Equations were calculated in order to estimate the N excretion by the urine in grazing dairy cows from the urea content in milk of a group of cows