The Challenge of the Urine Patch for Managing Nitrogen in Grazed Pasture Systems

The fungal saprophytes, Pithomyces chartorum and Fusorium culmorum, have similar distribution patterns in grazed-pasture ecosystems. Spore loads (and toxin levels) of each are highest at the base of pastures and rapidly decline up the profile. But variation is considerable from site to site within a pasture, with the highest levels associated with high N (viz: urine-patch) sites. In vegetative tillers of ryegrass the fungal endophyte, Acremonium lolii, has a similar vertical distribution pattern to the above-mentioned saprophytes, the greatest concentration being in the leaf sheath component in the pasture base. It also develops better within ryegrass at high N sites. Grazed-pastures are not uniformly defoliated by livestock during summer and autumn - urine-patch sites are grazed more frequently and intensively and dung-patch sites less frequently and intensively than the remainder of a pasture, especially when set-stocked. The close grazing which occurs at urine-patch sites, especially in grass-dominant pastures can, therefore, contribute disproportionately to the acquisition of fungal toxins by livestock. Observations of field outbreaks and results of grazing experiments show that the risk of outbreaks of ryegrass staggers in sheep is greater under set-stocking and during the latter stages of defoliation of a pasture in a rotational system. When necessary defoliation, especially at urinepatch sites, and hence acquisition of fungal contaminants (and toxins), can be controlled adequately by a rapid rotation in which stock are moved daily. Moving stock less frequently does not control defoliation or the development of dietary-dependent disorders. Keywords: Pasture fungi, saprophytes, ryegrass endophyte, distribution patterns, feeding behaviour, toxin acquisition, dietary-dependent disorders, facial eczema, ryegrass staggers, ill-thrift, infertility, grazing management and control.

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The spatial coverage of dairy cattle urine patches in an intensively grazed pasture system

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859610001012 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 149 (4) ◽

pp. 473-485 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

J. L. MOIR ◽

K. C. CAMERON ◽

H. J. DI ◽

U. FERTSAK

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Area Coverage ◽

Patch Area ◽

N Losses ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Spatial Coverage ◽

Urine Patch ◽

The Mean ◽

A New Technique

SUMMARYAccurate field data on the paddock area affected by cow urine depositions are critical to the estimation and modelling of nitrogen (N) losses and N management in grazed pasture systems. A new technique using survey-grade global positioning system (GPS) technology was developed to precisely measure the paddock spatial area coverage, diversity and distribution of dairy cattle urine patches in grazed paddocks over time. A 4-year study was conducted on the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF), Canterbury, New Zealand, from 2003 to 2007. Twelve field plots, each 100 m2 in area, were established on typical grazing areas of the farm. All urine and dung deposits within the plots were visually identified, the pasture response area (radius) measured and position marked with survey-grade GPS. The plots were grazed as part of the normal grazing rotation of the farm and urine and dung deposits measured at 12-week intervals. The data were collated using spatial (GIS) software and an assessment of annual urine patch coverage and spatial distribution was made. Grazing intensities ranged from 17 645 to 30 295 cow grazing h/ha/yr. Mean annual areas of urine patches ranged from 0·34 to 0·40 m2 (4-year mean 0·37±0·009 m2), with small but significant variation between years and seasons. Mean annual urine patch numbers were 6240±124 patches/ha/yr. The mean proportional area coverage for a single sampling event or season was 0·058 and the mean proportional annual urine patch coverage was 0·232±0·0071. There was a strong linear relationship between annual cow grazing h/ha and urine patch numbers/ha (R2=0·69) and also annual urine patch area coverage (R2=0·77). Within the stocking densities observed in this study, an annual increase of 10 000 cow grazing h/ha increased urine patch numbers by 1800 urine patches/ha/yr and annual urine patch area coverage by 0·07. This study presents new quantitative data on urine patch size, numbers and the spatial coverage of patches on a temporal basis.

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Grazed pasture parameters. I. Pasture dry-matter production and availability in a stocking rate and grazing management experiment with dairy cows

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600068283 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 199-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

A.G. Campbell

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cow ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Grazing Management ◽

Dry Matter Production ◽

Small Scale ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Matter Production

1. Net pasture dry matter production and available pasture dry matter were measured over 3 years in a small-scale replica of the study of the effects of dairy cow grazing management and stocking rate reported by McMeekan & Walshe (1963).2. The four treatments were(i) Controlled rotational grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(ii) Controlled rotational grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).(iii) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(iv) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).3. The pasture measurement technique employed measured net pasture production (gains through new growth minus losses from all sources). It is argued that this parameter, rather than absolute pasture production, governs the changes in the dry matter feed supply to the grazing animal.

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The proportion of deposited urine patch intercepted by a delayed inhibitor application

Environmental Technology ◽

10.1080/09593330.2021.1934561 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-29

Author(s):

Donna Giltrap ◽

Nicolaas Portegys ◽

Surinder Saggar ◽

James Hanly

Keyword(s):

Urine Patch

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The impact of cattle grazing and treading on soil properties and the transport of phosphorus, sediment and E. coli in surface runoff from grazed pasture

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1080/00288233.2021.1910319 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Colin W. Gray ◽

Chandra P. Ghimire ◽

Richard W. McDowell ◽

Richard W. Muirhead

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Surface Runoff ◽

Cattle Grazing ◽

E Coli ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

The Impact

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Ammonia volatilisation from grazed, pasture based dairy farming systems

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103119 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 190 ◽

pp. 103119

Author(s):

Andrew P. Smith ◽

Karen M. Christie ◽

Matthew T. Harrison ◽

Richard J. Eckard

Keyword(s):

Farming Systems ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Ammonia Volatilisation

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A comparison of soil sampling procedures used to monitor soil fertility in permanent pastures

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr9840081 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 81 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

DK Friesen ◽

GJ Blair

Keyword(s):

Sampling Method ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Temporal Variations ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Soil Test ◽

Sampling Strategies ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

The Mean ◽

Sampling Procedures ◽

Bray 1

Soil testing programs are often brought in disrepute by unexplained variability in the data. The deposition of dung and urine onto grazed pasture brings about marked variation in the chemical status of soils which contributes to this variability. A study was undertaken to compare a range of sampling procedures to estimate Colwell-P, Bray-1 P, bicarbonate K and pH levels in adjacent low and high P status paddocks. The sampling strategies used consisted of 75 by 50 m grids; whole and stratified paddock zig-zag and cluster (monitor plot) samplings. Soil test means for the various parameters did not vary among sampling methods. The number of grid samples required to estimate within 10% of the mean varied from 121 for Bray-1 P down to 1 for soil pH. Sampling efficiencies were higher for cluster sampling than for whole paddock zig-zag path sampling. Stratification generally did not improve sampling efficiency in these paddocks. Soil test means declined as sampling depth increased, but the coefficient of variation remained constant for Colwell-P and pH. The results indicate that cluster sampling (monitor plots) is the most appropriate procedure for estimating the nutrient status of grazed pastures. This sampling method enables a more accurate measure to be taken of the nutrient status of a paddock and should allow more reasonable estimates to be made of the temporal variations in soil test.

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The design and interpretation of experiments to study animal production from grazed pasture

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600014830 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

pp. 327-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J. B. Owen ◽

W. J. Ridgman

Keyword(s):

Simple Model ◽

Unit Area ◽

Personal Communication ◽

Animal Production ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Stocking Rates ◽

Pasture Productivity

SUMMARYExperiments designed to assess differences between treatments in pasture productivity as measured by the production of animals are complicated by the stocking rates chosen. The paper attempts toderive a simple model relating production per animal and production per unit area to stocking rate for meat animals, based on biological considerations.A method is proposed which would allow meaningful grazing experiments to be carried out employing only one stocking rate, thus considerably reducing the expense of this type of experimentation.The model is applied to some recent data obtained by Hodgson (1966) and Appleton (1967, personal communication).

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Responses to supplements by weaned lambs when grazing mature pasture or eating hay cut from the same pasture

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600082277 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 661-667 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Freer ◽

H. Dove ◽

A. Axelsen ◽

J. R. Donnelly

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Coefficient Of Variation ◽

Substitution Rate ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Sunflower Meal ◽

Total Intake ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

Four Levels ◽

Supplement Intake

SummaryWeaned cross-bred lambs either grazed mature pasture or were confined to yards where they were offered material cut from ungrazed areas of the same pasture. A 1:2 mixture (on an air-dry basis) of sunflower meal and oat grain was offered for 81 days at 0, 200, 400 or 600 g/head or ad libitum. Individual estimates of intake of pasture and supplement by grazing sheep at four levels of supplementation were made on four adjacent plots.Weight gain increased from –30 to 178 g/day in the grazing animals as supplement intake increased up to 1030 g D.M./day and from –25 to 142 g/day in the yarded animals as supplement intake increased to 1076 g D.M./day. Growth of greasy wool increased from 4·5 to 11·7 g/day for grazing animals and from 4·5 to 10·2 g/day for those kept in yards.At levels of supplement intake below 400 g D.M./day, the intake of grazed pasture increased by up to 58% compared with unsupplemented animals. However, when the intake of supplement was increased to about 650 g D.M./day, pasture intake fell, with an estimated substitution rate of 1·1 g D.M. pasture per g D.M. supplement. At all levels of supplementation, the intake of hay by the yarded lambs was less than half the intake of herbage in the field. However, at levels of supplement intake between 300 and 500 g D.M./day, the substitution rate was similar to that measured in the grazing animals, suggesting that this is an attribute of roughage quality, rather than differential eating behaviour between grazing and yarded animals.The wastage, w (g D.M./day), of supplement was linearly related to the amount offered, s (g D.M./day), by the equationw = 0·263s − 38·8; R2 = 0·89Variability in supplement intake between individual grazing lambs was not affected by the level of supplementation but the coefficient of variation of supplement intake was considerably greater than that of the intake of unsupplemented pasture. Variability in the intake of pasture increased with the level of supplementation but variability in the total intake of food was similar at each level of supplement, indicating some degree of individual compensation in the intake of the two components.

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