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Benfalk, C., Lindgren, K., Lindahl, C. and Rundgren, M. (2005) Mobile and Stationary Systems for Organic Pigs— Animal Behaviour in Outdoor Pens. In: Köpke, U., Niggli, U., Neuhoff, D., Cornish, P., Lockeretz, W., Willer, H., Eds., Researching Sustainable Systems, 242-245.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Winter Runoff of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from a Rotational Pen Design with Suckler Cows

  AUTHORS: Eva Salomon, Helena Aronsson, Gunnar Torstensson, Barbro Ulén

  KEYWORDS: N, P, Organic Carbon, Outdoor Pen, Trampling, Surface Runoff

  JOURNAL NAME: Agricultural Sciences, Vol.6 No.10, October 28, 2015

  ABSTRACT: Keeping beef cattle outdoors during winter reduces costs and improves animal welfare, but increases the risk of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff losses. This study evaluated a rotational pen design on grassland with two groups of suckler cows given access to an expanding staying area and a new feeding area each week (72 cattle ha-1), with one month’s stay per pen. The spatial distribution of excreta and effects on N and P surface runoff was evaluated during six months. The total excreta loads corresponded to 500 kg·N·ha-1 and 50 kg·P·ha-1. New feeding areas did not distribute excretions evenly, which resulted in the highest proportion of excretions (31%) occurring in the first week’s sub-area. The topsoil had significantly higher amounts of mineral-N, mainly as NH4-N (29 - 81 kg·ha-1), than an unaffected area (13 kg·ha-1). Mean total runoff losses were similar for both groups (1.4 kg·P·ha-1 and 9.0 kg·N·ha-1). Around 78% of N and 70% of P runoff losses occurred during the month with cattle present. During the first two weeks with heavy rain, N and P runoff losses were 50% higher from an area with suckler cows than a corresponding vegetated sub-area without cows. The study design did not provide a sufficient distribution of excretions and a high animal density in combination with trampling resulted in unacceptable N and P run-off losses. An environmentally friendly design would need to include frequent moving of all equipment and access to larger areas.