Abstract

Milk urea (MU) has been proposed as a predictor of nitrogen excreted through urine into the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate milk production performance and efficiency of crude protein utilization (ECPU) of cows with low and high MU breeding values (MUBV) in grazing conditions with two levels of dietary supplementation inclusion. From July 2016 to May 2017, 257 cows were milked once daily with low supplementation (LS; 366 kg/cow/lactation) and 210 cows were milked twice daily with high supplementation (HS; 2,091 kg/cow/lactation). Cows within each herd were ranked as low, intermediate, or high for MUBV. The dataset consisted of 2,318 records of milk production collected from monthly herd-tests of both herds; and 853 additional milk samples obtained at early, mid and late lactation to measure MU. The ECPU was calculated as the proportion of protein yield (PY) with respect to crude protein intake (CPI); with CPI derived from feed intake estimates based on energy requirements. Cows with HS had superior milk yield (MY) and milk solids yield (MSY) [MSY= PY + fat yield (FY)] (P<0.001). Feed intake was less in LS (P<0.001) but CPI was superior compared to HS. The ECPU was better in HS (P<0.001) because of higher PY (P<0.001) along with lower CPI (P<0.001). Levels of MU were superior for LS because of higher CPI. Cows with low-MUBV had significantly lower MU along with less total daily excretion of MU during the lactation (P<0.001). Irrespective of supplementary feed level, cows with low-MUBV had less MY (P<0.001). Low-MUBV did not result in improved ECPU for either supplementary feed level: under LS, ECPU was inferior in cows of low-MUBV (P<0.001), and this was explained by reduced PY (P<0.001).

M, CorreaLuna, DJ Donaghy, PD Kemp, MM Schutz, and N Lopez-villalobos

New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production, Volume 79, Palmerston North, 112-117, 2019