Reduction of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Livestock Waste : A Major Priority for Intensive Animal Production

Abstract

In current animal production in Japan, a large surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus is given to animals as their feed which are mostly imported from outside of our own country. Today, an excess of nitrogen and phosphorus from animal manure has been spread out of the area of animal production and the surroundings. These components have become the major reason for eutrophication of ground, surface and inland water. Nutritional studies for the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus from animal waste has been done by many researchers. The reduction of excess protein in animal feed and the supplementation of deficient essential amino acids to feed have a possibility to increase the biological value of feed and to reduce nitrogen excretion, especially, via urine. The use of phytase activity to degrade phytate and to release utilizable inorganic phosphorus make it possible to cut an excess supply of feed additive inorganic phosphorus and to reduce phosphorus excretion from animal waste.