Feed Nutrient Management Plan Economics software (FNMP$; Koelsch et al., 2007; available at http://cnmp.unl.edu under software resources) was used to evaluate the effect of distillers grains inclusion and manure application rate on feedlot nutrient management plans. Inclusion of distillers grains in diets resulted in greater nutrient excretion, land requirements, and manure hauling distances. However, the increased cost of manure management from feeding byproducts has the potential to be offset by increased manure fertilizer value. Changing from N-based to a P-based application rate increased the amount of land required and costs to apply manure. However, when manure was applied at a 4-year P-based rate instead of a 1-year P-based rate, single year land requirement remained similar and application-time was reduced by 41% from the 1-year P-based rate

Bremer, Virgil R.

Erickson, Galen E.

Koelsch, Richard K.

Massey, Raymond E.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department January 2008 Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and Economics Virgil R. Bremer University of Nebraska-Lincoln, vbremer2@unl.edu Richard K. Koelsch University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rkoelsch1@unl.edu Raymond E. Massey University of Missouri, Columbia Galen E. Erickson University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr  Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Bremer, Virgil R.; Koelsch, Richard K.; Massey, Raymond E.; and Erickson, Galen E., "Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and Economics" (2008). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 26. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/26 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Page 66 — 2008 Nebraska Beef Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and EconomicsVirgil R. BremerRichard K. KoelschRaymond E. MasseyGalen E. Erickson1SummaryFeed Nutrient Management Plan Economics software (FNMP$; Koelsch et al., 2007; available at http://cnmp.unl.edu under software resources) was used to evaluate the effect of distillers grains inclusion and manure application rate on feedlot nutrient management plans. Inclusion of distillers grains in diets resulted in greater nutrient excretion, land requirements, and manure hauling distances. However, the increased cost of manure management from feeding byproducts has the potential to be offset by increased manure fertilizer value. Changing from N-based to a P-based application rate increased the amount of land required and costs to apply manure. However, when manure was applied at a 4-year P-based rate instead of a 1-year P-based rate, single year land requirement remained similar and application time was reduced by 41% from the 1-year P-based rate.  IntroductionBoth dietary N and P levels in feed-lot diets impact the fertilizer value of feedlot manure. A specific feedlot may adjust ration ingredient inclusions to minimize feed costs which may change the N and P in the diet and the nutrient profile of the feedlot manure. Traditional manure management programs have been based on crop N needs. Due to an imbalanced ratio of N to P in feedlot manure compared to crop needs, applying manure on a N basis results in applying P in excess of crop requirements. Long-term net addition of P to agricultural soils has the potential for degrading surface water quality. Therefore, environ-mentally preferred manure manage-ment programs should be based on practices that apply manure to meet crop P needs.Ration changes and transitioning from a N-based to a P-based manure application system affect manure management cost and manure fertil-izer value. However, accurately cal-culating these costs/values has been difficult due to the many steps and intricate details involved. The objec-tive of this analysis was to use the feed nutrient management plan economics (FNMP$) software tool to evaluate the effect of distillers grains inclusion and manure application rate on feedlot nutrient management plans.ProcedureThe FNMP$ software tool (Koelsch et al., 2007; available at http://cnmp.unl.edu under software resources) is designed to estimate 1) nutrient excre-tion, 2) manure amounts and nutrient content, ) land requirements for ag-ronomic utilization of the manure, 4) time requirements (labor and equip-ment) for land application, 5) costs associated with land application, and 6) potential nutrient value (N and P only) of manure (Table 1). Research has shown that feedlots may increase profitability by includ-ing distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) in feedlot finishing diets (2006 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 54-56; 2008 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 50-51). The inclusion of DGS in feedlot diets changes subsequent manure nutrient composition. Three distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) scenarios were evaluated for a 10,000-head feedlot. The feedlot was assumed to have access to 40% of the land around it for manure application and crop land was in a corn (175 bu/ac) and soybean rotation (60 bu/ac). Dietary inclusion rates of 0%, 20%, and 40% (DM basis) DGS replacing corn in feedlot rations were compared. In addition, federal and state regulations require feedlots to apply manure at rates that do not exceed crop nutrient needs. This has required feedlots to apply manure on P-based rates instead of N-based rates. P-based Table 1. Summary of key user inputs and outputs of individual modules within FNMP$ software.Module  Inputs  Outputs Excretion Ration nutrient concentration Excreted nitrogen mass Feed intake Excreted phosphorus mass Animal performance (e.g. weight gain, days on feed) Excreted solids mass and Facility housing animals   concentrationNutrient Manure housing/storage type Crop available nitrogenAvailability Nutrient retention in storage (optional) Crop available phosphorus Crop availability (optional) Harvested manure mass and Land application characteristics   volume (liquid systems Manure moisture and ash concentrations   only)Land and  Crop rotation, yield, and crops receiving manure Manure nutrient concentrationDistance Crop nutrient requirements (optional) and  Application rate   credits from non-manure sources Land requirements for Basis for application rate   agronomic use  Average field size Average and maximum travel Land Availability   distance Value of nutrients   Economics Application and nurse tank/truck equipment Application time for spreading Application equipment operating characteristics   equipment and nurse tank/ Operating costs (optional)    truck  Total annual costs for manure    application  Nutrient value of manure  Net costs of manure application © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2008 Nebraska Beef Report  — Page 67 rates are typically lower than N-based rates, requiring additional land access and time for manure applications. The FNMP$ tool was used to com-pare manure application at a N-based rate versus a 1-year P-based rate. The results from the 1-year P-based rate were compared to a 4-year P-based rate. A 1-year P-based rate applies suf-ficient manure P to meet crop removal for 1 cropping year. A 4-year P-based rate applies sufficient manure P to meet P removal for 4 cropping years with no additional manure applica-tion during the 4-year period.ResultsImpact of Feeding DGSThe impact of the dietary change was quantified in terms of manure nutrient excretion, land area, labor and equipment operating time, and land application costs. Increased in-clusion of DGS from 0% to 40% (DM basis) increased diet CP from 1% to 18.7% and P in the diets from 0.29% to 0.49%. Greater diet N and P re-sulted in greater N and P excretion for 40% DGS compared to 0% DGS (51% and 90% N and P increase, respec-tively; Table 2). Land area increased from 5,780 to 11,070 acres and average haul distance increased from 2.0 to 2.9 miles at 40% DGS to manage the extra P. Equipment operating time and labor increased with greater land requirements. Most of the increase in time requirement was a result of greater field time for manure applica-tion. Finally, the total costs associ-ated with land application of manure increased from $48,000 to $72,000, or by about $24,000. For this situation, the negative impacts on land, time, and costs were offset by the increased nutrient value of the manure being land applied assuming the end-user of manure pays fertilizer prices for manure nu-trients. The $24,000 increase in land application costs were more than off-set by an $8,000 increase in manure value. The actual increase in manure value may be less than this value Table 2. Impact of inclusion of distillers grains with soluble (DGS) in cattle ration for 10,000-head capacity feedlot. Assumes 40% of land is accessible for manure application and cropland is in a corn (175 bu/ac) and soybean rotation (60 bu/ac).Options: 0% inclusion of  20% inclusion of 40% inclusion of   DGS in diet a DGS in dieta DGS in dietaManure Nutrients Available     Nitrogen     Excreted (lb/year)  1,096,000  1,20,000  1,65,000  Crop Available (lb/year)  218,000  265,000  1,000  Phosphorus (P2O5)     Excreted (lb/year)  14,000  192,000  256,000  Crop Available (lb/year)  128,000  185,000  245,000 Manure Application     Land Required (acres)  5,780  8,40  11,070  Land Required (acres/year)  1,580  2,100  2,770  Average Haul Distance (miles) 2.0  2.5  2.9  Maximum Haul Distance (miles)  .0  .7  4.  Application Rate (as-is ton/acre)  8.0 b   5.8  4.5  Land Available for Manure  40%  40%  40% Manure Application Equipment              Truck mounted  Truck mounted Truck mountedApplication Equipment Selected 20-ton spreader  20-ton spreader  20-ton spreader  Total Time (hours/year)  820  990  1,200  Field Time (hours/year)  460  570  720  Road Travel Time (hours/year)  210  260  00  Loading/Unloading (hours/year)  160  160  160 Manure Management Economics     Nutrient Value Total ($/year) $ 109,000 $ 148,000 $ 192,000     Total ($/ton)  $ .50  $ 4.70  $ 6.20  Application Cost Total ($/year)  $ 48,000  $ 59,000  $ 72,000     Total ($/ton)  $ 1.50  $ 1.90  $ 2.0  Net Value Total($/year)  $ 61,000  $ 89,000  $ 120,000     Total ($/ton)  $ 2.00  $ 2.80  $ .90 aRation crude protein and P concentrations are 1% and 0.29% (0% inclusion), 15.% and 0.9% (20% inclusion), and 18.7% and 0.49% (40% inclusion), respectively.bLimited to N-based rate. P-based rate exceeded crop N requirement. Table 3. Impact on costs of manure application when manure application rate was determined on an N or P based rate. Assumes 40% of land is accessible for manure application and cropland is in a corn (175 bu/ac) and soybean rotation (60 bu/ac).Manure Application Rate Options: N-Based  1-year  4-year  Ratea P-Based Ratea,b P-Based RateaManure Nutrients Available  Nitrogen - Crop Available (lb/year)  1,000  1,000  1,000  Phosphorus - Crop Available (lb/year)  24,000  24,000  24,000  Manure Application     Land Required (acres)  2,400  11,900  11,100  Land Required (acres/year)  2,400  11,100  2,800  Average Haul Distance (miles)  1.2  .0  2.9  Maximum Haul Distance (miles)  1.9  4.4  4.  Application Rate (as-is ton/acre)  5.4   1.1   4.5  Portion of Land Available for Manure  40%  40%  40% Manure Application Equipment        Truck mounted  Truck mounted Truck mountedApplication Equipment Selected 20-ton spreader  20-ton spreader  20-ton spreader  Truck mounted 20-ton spreader  Total Time (hours/year)  920  2,100  1,200  Field Time (hours/year)  640  1,600  720  Road Travel Time (hours/year)  10  20  00  Loading/Unloading (hours/year)  160  160  160 Manure Management Economics    Nutrient Value Total ($/year)  $ 197,000  $ 195,000 $ 192,000   Total ($/ton as-is)  $ 6.40  $ 6.40  $ 6.20 Application Cost Total ($/year)  $ 52,000  $ 144,000 $ 72,000    Total ($/ton as-is)  $ 1.70   $ 4.70  $ 2.0 Net Value Total($/year)  $ 145,000  $ 51,000 $ 51,000    Total ($/ton as-is)  $ 4.70  $ 1.70  $ .90 aRation crude protein and P concentrations are 18.7% and 0.49% (40% inclusion of DGS), respectively for a 10,000 head feedlot.bField speed of manure applicator was assumed to be 5.0 miles/hour for the N-based rate and 4-year P-based rates. It was assumed to increase to 8.0 miles/ h for a 1-year P-based rate. (Continued on next page)Page 68 — 2008 Nebraska Beef Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.based on neighboring land owners willingness to pay fertilizer value for manure nutrients. If manure was val-ued for N, P, and K fertilizer nutrient values, OM content for improvement of soil structure and water holding capacity, Ca liming effect, and micro-nutrient composition, dietary changes that increase nutrient excretion increase manure value. To achieve this value, manure would need to be applied to fields where excess nutri-ents have not accumulated and crop producers need to recognize this value and substitute manure for commercial fertilizer. Another consideration is the impact of a feed management change on animal production and profitabil-ity. For example, the average profit-ability of the animal is increased by $15 to $0 per finished animal using 20% to 40% DGS in the diet depend-ing on inclusion level, distance from the plant, and price relative to corn grain (2006 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 54-56). Therefore, the annual economic return for 20,000 finished steers (two turns in a 10,000 head feedlot) from least cost formulation in this example would be $00,000 to $600,000 due to including DGS in the diet. The income from feeding DGS is quite large compared to the increased cost ($24,000) to spread manure fur-ther.Impact of N vs. P-Based Application RateNitrogen and P-based rates were evaluated for the feedlot introduced previously with 40% DGS inclusion in the diet and those results were summarized in Table . For this example, moving from a N-based rate to a P-based rate (applied to meet a single crop year P needs) increased total land requirements from 2,400 to 11,900 acres. In addition, labor and equipment operation time increased from 920 to 2,100 hour/year, which is a 20% increase. Most of these hours were for field application of the manure. The maximum haul distance of available fields increased from 1.9 to 4. miles. A $94,000 increase in land application costs was also identi-fied. Therefore, the net value of the manure was decreased. Impact of 1-year vs. 4-year P-Based Application RatesThe total land requirement for 4-year P-based manure application remained similar to a 1- year P-based rate. However, for a 1-year P-based rate, all land must receive manure each year as opposed to every fourth year, and application rates must be reduced (1.1 vs. 4.5 tons/acre). If the model feedlot applied manure on a 4-year P-based rate instead of a 1-year P-based rate, it would decrease an-nual labor and equipment operating time by approximately 900 hours. In addition, the feedlot would reduce application cost by more than $70,000 annually. The nutrient value of manure exceeded the costs of manure application for all situations evaluat-ed, assuming that neighboring farm-ers are willing to pay fertilizer value for manure nutrients. Transitioning to a 4-year P-based rate had significantly less costs than a 1-year P-based rate. A 1-year P-based rate has no envi-ronmental benefit over a 4-year rate (Agricultural Phosphorus Manage-ment and Water Quality Protection in the Midwest, 2005).A history of manure application to fields close to the feedlot with N-based application rates may have provided a more than adequate sup-ply of P for future crop production. Therefore, farmers further from the feedlot may be willing to pay more for the full nutrient value of the manure to replace commercial P fertilizer. The access to new land may offer feedlots new opportunities to market manure, especially higher P manure produced by cattle fed DGS. The transition from a N-based rate to a single year P-based application will have substantial impact on all costs evaluated. Feedlot managers will experience far less financial and time burdens if a 4-year P-based applica-tion system is used instead of a 1-year P-based rate while achieving the same environmental benefits.1Virgil R. Bremer, research technician, Animal Science; Richard K. Koelsch, associate professor, Biological Systems Engineering and Animal Science; Galen E. Erickson, assistant professor, Animal Science, Lincoln. Raymond E. Massey, associate professor, Agricultural Eco-nomics, University of Missouri, Columbia. 

Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and Economics

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=animalscinbcr

Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and Economics

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska