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Effects of prolonged oral administration of dicyandiamide to dairy heifers on excretion in urine and efficacy in soil

•Dairy heifers were orally administered with dicyandiamide (DCD) at 3 rates over a 90-day continuous dosing period.•DCD did not affect heifer growth or measured blood metabolites.•Prolonged daily administration of DCD resulted in the sustained excretion of DCD in urine and inhibited nitrification in...

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Published in:Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2013-07, Vol.173, p.28-36
Main Authors: Welten, B.G., Ledgard, S.F., Schipper, L.A., Waller, J.E., Kear, M.J., Dexter, M.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:•Dairy heifers were orally administered with dicyandiamide (DCD) at 3 rates over a 90-day continuous dosing period.•DCD did not affect heifer growth or measured blood metabolites.•Prolonged daily administration of DCD resulted in the sustained excretion of DCD in urine and inhibited nitrification in soil.•A 3-fold increase in the rate administered resulted in a similar increase in the level of DCD in urine and deposited in urine patches.•DCD application rate onto soils varied widely, and the variability increased with increasing dose rate administered. Oral administration of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) to grazing ruminants for excretion in urine represents a targeted mitigation strategy to reduce nitrogen (N) losses from grazed pastures. A field trial and allied laboratory incubation study were conducted to examine the effects of oral administration of DCD to non-lactating Friesian dairy heifers on excretion of DCD in urine and efficacy in soil. Dairy heifers were orally administered DCD daily at three treatment levels (low, medium and high; 12, 24 and 36gDCDheifer−1day−1, respectively) and compared to a nil-DCD control group over a 90-day continuous dosing period. There were no adverse effects of DCD administration on heifer health or growth, as inferred by live-weight gain and measured blood metabolite levels. Prolonged administration of DCD to dairy heifers resulted in the sustained excretion of DCD in the urine over 90 days and inhibition of nitrification of urinary-N in the silty peat soil for up to 56 days (incubated at 20°C; P
ISSN:0167-8809
1873-2305
DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2013.04.003