Nitrogen from the pasture plants is absorbed by the cow’s body, and excess nitrogen is excreted as urine and dung.
Urine is of particular concern as a considerable amount of nitrogen is deposited in a small area. Pasture plants are not able to utilise all of the nitrogen, and it can be lost to leaching.
Dairy shed effluent is a mix of wash water, dung and urine. It is collected and treated on the farm and irrigated to the land, returning and reusing the nutrients.
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