Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
10/21/04
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Jim Russell, Iowa State University, (515) 294-4631, jrussell@iastate.edu
Angie Rieck-Hinz, Iowa State University, (515) 294-9590, amrieck@iastate.edu
Rachel E. Martin, Iowa Beef Center, (515) 294-9124, remartin@iastate.edu
Brian Rumsey, Iowa Beef Center, (515) 294-2333, rumsey@iastate.edu
Awareness of Phosphorus Levels in Beef Cattle Can Save Money, Help Environment
AMES, Iowa - - Recent research conducted at Iowa State University has shown that monitoring phosphorus levels in beef cattle can have cost-saving benefits as well as being beneficial to the environment.
Common practice among beef producers is to have phosphorus (P) supplements available at all times for their cattle. However, supplementary phosphorus is not always necessary. Too much phosphorus in a cow's diet can lead to excess P excretion in fecal matter, which can be harmful to the environment. Awareness of phosphorus levels in cattle can help beef producers know when supplementary P is necessary. Knowing phosphorus levels can also help producers financially, because if there is sufficient P in the forage they are feeding their cattle with, there is no need to use costly supplementary phosphorus.
The research conducted at Iowa State found that cattle fed on younger forages generally had higher P levels than those fed on more mature forages. This indicates that cattle fed on younger forages are less likely to need supplementary phosphorus, although variations may still occur.
"The only reliable way to know for sure is to test phosphorus levels in your cattle," says Jim Russell, professor of animal science at Iowa State.
In the future, new federal regulations may govern how much manure-phosphorus may be land-applied by beef producers. Those regulations are not in place yet, though, and their potential extent is not certain, says Angie Rieck-Hinz, an ISU Extension specialist.
"These new rules won't ban the use of phosphorus," Rieck-Hinz says. "Right now the important things for beef producers are to have current soil tests to all areas they apply manure to and to assess any conservation practices they have so that they can know their phosphorus index rating."
The phosphorus index rating will be used by the future federal regulations to determine how much phosphorus may be applied.
For more information about this research, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org.
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