Despite some concerns from within the fertiliser industry about the use of protected urea products, a new study has concluded that residues from the product should not impact animal health or be present in milk or meat products.
The research, published in Translational Animal Science, investigated the potential for the active ingredient NBPT to accumulate in cattle.
NBPT is used as an inhibitor in some protected urea fertilisers to slow down the rate of urea conversion to ammonium. This has economic and environmental benefits by increasing nitrogen efficiency and lowering ammonia emissions.
The study involved administering NBPT capsules to dairy cows across four dose rates for 28 days to examine “exaggerated use levels”.
The results showed that no NBPT residue was detectable, except for a residue which showed up in a milk and fat sample from the highest dose rate group.
However, the researchers point out that in practice this level of NBPT in a cow could only be possible if the animal consumed 10 times the lethal amount of protected urea fertiliser.
“It is unlikely for NBPT residues to be present in cattle milk or edible tissues or to cause negative effects on animal health under good agricultural practice,” the research paper reads.
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Despite some concerns from within the fertiliser industry about the use of protected urea products, a new study has concluded that residues from the product should not impact animal health or be present in milk or meat products.
The research, published in Translational Animal Science, investigated the potential for the active ingredient NBPT to accumulate in cattle.
NBPT is used as an inhibitor in some protected urea fertilisers to slow down the rate of urea conversion to ammonium. This has economic and environmental benefits by increasing nitrogen efficiency and lowering ammonia emissions.
The study involved administering NBPT capsules to dairy cows across four dose rates for 28 days to examine “exaggerated use levels”.
The results showed that no NBPT residue was detectable, except for a residue which showed up in a milk and fat sample from the highest dose rate group.
However, the researchers point out that in practice this level of NBPT in a cow could only be possible if the animal consumed 10 times the lethal amount of protected urea fertiliser.
“It is unlikely for NBPT residues to be present in cattle milk or edible tissues or to cause negative effects on animal health under good agricultural practice,” the research paper reads.
Read more
Watch: Project Engage officially launches
Dairy markets: UK milk production continues to expand while Poland growth slows
Analysis: solving the methane problem remains the key to meeting climate targets
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