Abattoir and farm studies in intensive piggeries in Brittany revealed that urinary infections are common in sows, and are associated with poor hygiene, lack of exercise (tethered housing, limb injuries), low water intake, and acidity (pH less than 5.7) and high nitrate content of the drinking water.

Increasing the efficiency of conversion of feed nitrogen (N) into milk and meat N in dairy cattle is an integral part of the effort to maintain or increase food production while decreasing agriculture's environmental impact. Mathematical models provide a means to assess and compare different...