Introduction.
This study was carried out within the scope of a graduation assignment in the study programme Animal and Dairy Farming at the Van Hall institute in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. (2005). This study was carried out on assignment from Rinagro BV in Piaam, the Netherlands.
Results of the test.
The manure treated with AgriMestMix contains 0.3kg/ton more ammoniacal nitrogen as compared to untreated manure. In untreated manure, the proportion N amm. is N org. at 1.7:3.1. In manure treated with AgriMestMix the proportion is 2:2.8.The C/N proportion changes; in non treated manure the proportion figure is 7.9 , in treated manure it is 7.3. As the graph below clearly showns, the dry matter(DS) content in the test drum containing AgriMestMix is lowering. After 10 weeks of treatment, the dry matter has lowered by more than 1%. In untreated manure, the dry matter percentage remains on the same level.
During the weekly treatment of the test drums, both drums were frothed to remove the scab and to add the additive to the drum with the treated manure.
After 7 weeks of treatment, the difference was striking: the test drum containing treated manure was much better to froth than the drum containing untreated manure.
The manure did become more fluid and the scab formed in the AgriMestMix drum after 1 week, appearing less thick as compared to the scab in the control drum. In addition, the odour that is released during the frothing is decreased as compared to the control drum.
A significant difference is noticed when you divide the data into users of AgriMestMix and non-users. The results show that the use of AgriMestMix over several years leads to a greater amount of crude protein(RE) and a lower level of sugar(suiker). Crude protein and sugar are linked. It is also clear that non-users have even a negative imbalanced protein level(OEB). The results of the test are illustrated in the following graph, which shows the effect of the use of AgriMestMix for more than one year. This applies for use in sandy soil, clay and peat-soil.
What is striking is the high level of nitrogen (NO3) in the analysed grass of AgriMestMix users. With fertilization, a stock of nitrogen is given to the plant, which is partly absorbed as nitrate. The plant converts nitrates into proteins for its growth. If more nitrates are absorbed than converted, an over-measure of nitrogen is generated in the plant. We can conclude that, with the use of AgriMestMix, the absorption of nitrate finishes more quickly than the conversion into proteins. Based on this knowledge, the use of artificial fertilizer can be reduced by using AgriMestMix .
The high values of nitrate are not a danger to animal health. The highest value of NO3 in the analysis is 1.30 gr. per kg. dry matter. In addition, the value of unsteady protein in the grass of users of AgriMestMix is much higher. The amount of imbalanced protein is a graduated scale for the surplus or shortage of imbalanced protein to form bacterial protein in the rumen. It is known that, by giving the plant more nitrogen, the amount of crude protein will increase and the imbalanced protein level will also increase. The higher amount of crude protein increases at the expense of the carbohydrates in the grass.
From this, you can conclude that manure treated with AgriMestMix has been given nitrogen that is more readily available to the plant. The manure is easier to mix, because of the inclined dry matter level.
High percentages of sugar in the grass silage is not always positive: sugar is used in part for conservation, and what is left can be used by the cow. If too much sugar is left in the silage after conservation, there is a danger that the dairy cows will develop rumen acidification. It is easy to get more milk by feeding crude protein: a high level of crude protein in the silage is more appealing than a high sugar level.
On the dairy farms where AgriMestMix is not used, the imbalanced protein level is mostly negative. There is inadequate imbalanced protein to form sufficient microbial protein. When the unsteady protein balance is zero, this means that all of the imbalanced protein has been used. The imbalanced protein in the ration for dairy cows must be greater than zero.
In a herd of dairy cows, there are differences among individual cows, differences in milk production and differences in the milk flow stage. If you have a zero imbalanced protein level, there are a number of cows who are not forming adequate microbial protein. Generally speaking, grass that is fertilized to a limited degree will not contain excess imbalanced protein but will offer a sufficient amount of energy. In this case, the imbalanced protein in the ration is low.
Conclusion of the manure test.
The percentage of dry matter declines by approximately 8 percent, which makes it easier to mix. The decline we saw in the measuring we made ourselves, however, the analyses also showed the same decline.
Highly apparent is the swing from organic nitrogen to ammoniacal nitrogen. This tyoe of nitrogen is able to remain in the liquid solution of the manure treated with AgriMestMix, and as a result, the nitrogen is available to the plant much more quickly.
The test demonstrates that using AgriMestMix offers 0.3 kg more mineral nitrogen per cubic meter. In 30 cubic meters of slurry, there will be 9 kg more nitrogen available to the plant.
Given a normal rate of 70 kg. of artificial fertilizer, this means that there will be savings of 40 percent!
Conclusion of the grass test.
The conclusion here is that AgriMestMix has a beneficial effect on the nutritive value in the form of crude protein and on the imbalanced protein level.
The digestible protein in the intestines declines when using AgriMestMix.