NCApril/May2024

April/May 2024 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 49 Rod’s Power Sports Lincoln, NE • 800-898-9411 www.rodspowersports.com Own the best. Period. •Rugged yet easy-towing •All-aluminum; built to last •Unmatched versatility and strength •Unrivaled resale value 24’ 8127 Gooseneck Trailer Your Featherlite Livestock Trailer Superstore 16’ 8107 Bumper Pull Trailer Great selection, great prices! • Rugged yet easy towing • All aluminum; built to last • Unmatched versatility and strength • Unrivaled resale value 2024 MODELS ARE IN STOCK NOW! Special pricing on all remaining 2023s! Lincoln, NE • CALL or TEXT (402) 423-6230 1/3 Rectangle Nebraska Cattleman 4 color Rod’s Power Sport March 2024 other surface amendment evaluated is a microbial product that contains a combination of bacteria and enzymes. These beneficial bacteria break down manure, alter the microbial population, and reduce the release of gases. The goal of the study was to see if these surface additives could cause a noteworthy reduction of ammonia and other gases emitted from feedlot pen surface material. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, details that, when tested in the lab, not just one but both surface amendments resulted in a positive reduction in ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions compared to untreated feedlot pen surface samples. The results show that the microbial treatment’s performance surpassed that of alum. The samples treated with the microbial amendment had lower total emissions than the samples where alum was applied. When tested on feedlot pen surface material in a stocked feedlot setting, the alum did not perform as well and lasted half as long as it did on the surface samples in the lab. Treating feedlot pen surfaces with either a microbial or alum application could help reduce feedlot emission of ammonia and greenhouse gases. However, until further studies are completed on stocked feedlot pen surfaces, the amendments are still in the trial phase. Cost effectiveness and time and labor requirements will be major factors in determining whether the amendments will be feasible for feedlots. Consequently, work with amendments for feedlot pen surfaces is ongoing. Researchers remain optimistic regarding the success of future results of upcoming testing of microbial amendments outside of the lab. The USMARC team is continuing its efforts to provide producers with proactive solutions while ensuring the efficiency and sustainability of the livestock production industry. Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and global warming are topics we should face head-on by working together to find solutions that ensure our sustainability while feeding our growing world! ~NC~

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5