Abstract: To investigate the effect of different composting methods (farmer compost, anaerobic compost, mixed compost and aerobic compost) on nitrogen loss and conservation during manure composting, faeces of dairy cattle was used to study and compare the effect on nitrogen loss by N2O and NH3 emissions, leachate and other forms of nitrogen loss and nitrogen conservation. The results showed that the nitrogen loss rate was 27.9%, 27.0% , 30.0% and 25.1% of farmer compost, anaerobic compost, mixed compost and aerobic compost, respectively, after compost. Except farmer compost (65.9%), others reached the required maturity standard (＞80% ); NH3 emission was the main contributor to nitrogen loss, aerobic compost had the largest NH3 emission, which accounted for 22.5% of the total nitrogen loss amount, then was mixed compost (16.6%), while anaerobic compost had the least (7.5%). Cumulative N loss via N2O emissions was less, which accounted for 0.06% to 0.11% of the total; 1.5%-12.0% of initial nitrogen was lost through leachate, farmer compost had the largest leachate loss, while aerobic compost had the smallest; nitrogen loss in other forms was 1.0% to 10.2%, aerobic compost had the lowest nitrogen loss in other forms, while anaerobic compost had the highest. Aerobic compost could meet the requirement of maturity standard and benefit to nitrogen loss reduction and nitrogen conservation.