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Dose Effect of Drinking Water Nitrate on Health, Feed Intake, Rumen Fermentation and Microbiota, and Nitrogen Excretion in Holstein Heifers for a Sustainable Water Use

Author

Listed:
  • Lourdes Llonch

    (Ruminant Production Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marçal Verdú

    (Animal Nutrition and Feed Industry, bonÀrea Agrupa, Guissona, 25210 Lleida, Spain)

  • Miriam Guivernau

    (Sustainability in Biosystems Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marc Viñas

    (Sustainability in Biosystems Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Sonia Martí

    (Ruminant Production Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Carles Medinyà

    (SINUAL S.L., Sallent, 08650 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Joan Riera

    (NANTA S.A., Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jordi Cucurull

    (Animal Nutrition and Feed Industry, bonÀrea Agrupa, Guissona, 25210 Lleida, Spain)

  • Maria Devant

    (Ruminant Production Program, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential hazardous effects of NO 3 − concentration in drinking water on health, feed intake, rumen fermentation and microbiota, and nitrogen excretion of Holstein heifers fed a high-concentrate diet for a sustainable water use. Twenty-four Holstein heifers were individually allocated and assigned to one of four treatments with increasing drinking water NO 3 − concentration: CTR, without NO 3 − ; LOW, with 44 mg NO 3 − /L; MOD, with 110 mg NO 3 − /L; and HIGH, with 220 mg NO 3 − /L. The entire study lasted 168 days. Fortnightly water NO 3 − concentration and daily feed and water intake were recorded. Blood parameters, rumen pH, volatile fatty acids, NO 3 − and NO 2 − concentration, microbiota, and apparent total tract digestibility were determined at the beginning and at the end of the study. Most of the analyzed parameters were similar among treatments. Denitrifying bacteria population, estimated as nosZ gene copies, were greater in HIGH animals than in CTR animals at the end of the study. In conclusion, drinking water NO 3 − concentration up to 220 mg/L has no detrimental effect on health, feed intake, rumen fermentation, nor N excretion in dairy beef cattle for periods up to 168 days; moreover, denitrifying bacteria population increased, which are related with the neutralization of the greenhouse gas N 2 O.

Suggested Citation

  • Lourdes Llonch & Marçal Verdú & Miriam Guivernau & Marc Viñas & Sonia Martí & Carles Medinyà & Joan Riera & Jordi Cucurull & Maria Devant, 2024. "Dose Effect of Drinking Water Nitrate on Health, Feed Intake, Rumen Fermentation and Microbiota, and Nitrogen Excretion in Holstein Heifers for a Sustainable Water Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:8814-:d:1496817
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, A.C. & Reimers, R.S. & deKernion, P., 1982. "A brief review of the current status of alternatives to chlorine disinfection of water," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 72(11), pages 1290-1293.
    2. J. M. Holloway & R. A. Dahlgren & B. Hansen & W. H. Casey, 1998. "Contribution of bedrock nitrogen to high nitrate concentrations in stream water," Nature, Nature, vol. 395(6704), pages 785-788, October.
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