Sheep urination frequency, volume, N excretion and chemical composition: Implications for subsequent agricultural N losses

Summary

Ruminant urine patches are potential sites of reactive nitrogen (N) loss to the environment. Quantification of N losses from grazed grasslands requires measurement of the frequency of urine deposition, as well as its volume and chemical composition. However, studies to date are typically restricted to analyses of few replicate animals and urination events, especially for sheep. Here, we present data on urine frequency, volume, chemical composition (n = 193 events from n = 6 sheep) and metabolomic profile (n = 4–5 events from n = 4–5 sheep) from penned sheep. Differences in urine parameters and chemical composition data were compared seasonally and between two sites (improved and semi-improved pasture). Sheep urinated 8–11 times d−1, assuming time within pens represented a 24 h period. The