Strategies to Reduce Environmental Pollution from Animal Manure: Nutritional Management Option

Abstract

The first option in manure management is developing an environmentally sound nutritional management. This includes proper feeding programs and feeds which will result in less excreted nutrients that need to be managed. Critical components that should be controlled are N, P and minerals that are used at supranutritional levels. Amino acid supplementation and protein restriction reduce N excretion in the monogastric animals. Supplementation with enzymes, such as carbohydrases, phytase and proteases, can be used to reduce excretion of nutrients and feces by improving digestibility of specific nutrients. Growth promoting agents, such as antibiotics, beta-agonists and somatotropin, increase the ability of animals to utilize nutrients, especially dietary protein, which results in reduced excretion of N. Some microminerals, such as Cu and Zn, are supplemented at supranutritional level. Metal-amino acid chelates, metal-proteinates and metal-polysaccharide complexes can be used at a much lower level than inorganic forms of metals without compromising performance of animals. Deodorases can be used to avoid air pollution from animal manure. Nutritional management increases costs to implement. It is necessary to assess the economics in order to find an acceptable compromise between the increased costs and the benefits in the environment and production as well.