Spanish scientists have found out whether it is possible to improve the sustainability of a cow's footprint by feeding legumes

Dairy cattle are a source of ammonia, because only 25–35% of dietary nitrogen is used for milk synthesis, and the rest is excreted from the body. Reducing nitrogen in the diet can be a way to reduce further ammonia emissions. However, this should not lead to a decrease in the potential milk yield of cows. Spanish scientists from the Service for Regional Research and Development (SERIDA) and the University of Oviedo have assessed how rational it is to introduce fashionable nitrogen-fixing legumes into the diet of dairy cattle. In his article published in Animals 2021 on the MDPI portal, he writes the following. Agricultural development in the past few decades has relied on the application of synthetic fertilizers as a factor in increasing yields. Then the intensive cultivation of high-yielding varieties turned out to be a serious problem, especially as excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization can lead to serious environmental problems with the quality of surface and groundwater. ...