Prediction of ammonia emission from dairy cattle manure based on milk urea nitrogen: relation of milk urea nitrogen to urine urea nitrogen excretion

The objectives of this study were to assess the relationship between urinary urea N (UUN) excretion (g/d) and milk urea N (MUN; mg/dL) and to test whether the relationship was affected by stage of lactation and the dietary crude protein (CP) content. Twelve lactating multiparous Holstein cows were randomly selected and blocked into 3 groups of 4 cows intended to represent early [123 ± 26 d in milk (DIM); mean ± standard deviation], mid (175 ± 3 DIM), and late (221 ± 12 DIM) lactation stages. Cows within each stage of lactation were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence within a split-plot Latin square balanced for carryover effects. Stage of lactation formed the main plots (squares) and dietary CP levels (15, 17, 19, and 21% of diet dry matter) formed the subplots. Graded amounts of urea were added to the basal total mixed ration to linearly increase dietary CP content while maintaining similar concentrations of all other nutrients among treatments. The experimental periods lasted 7 d, with d 1 to 6 used for adjustment to diets and d 7 used for total collection of urine as well as milk and blood sample collection. Dry matter intake and yields of milk, fat, protein, and lactose declined progressively with lactation stage and were unaffected by dietary CP content. Milk and plasma urea-N as well as UUN concentration and excretion increased in response to dietary CP content. Milk and urine urea-N concentration rose at increasing and decreasing rates, respectively, as a function of plasma urea-N. The renal urea-N clearance rate differed among lactation stages and dietary CP contents. The relationship between UUN excretion and MUN differed among lactation stages and diverged from linearity for cows in early and late lactation. However, these differences were restricted to very high MUN concentrations. Milk urea N may be a useful tool to predict the UUN excretion and ultimately NH₃ emission from dairy cattle manure.     

Prediction of ammonia emission from dairy cattle manure based on milk urea nitrogen: Relation of milk urea nitrogen to ammonia emissions

The main objectives of this study were to assess the relationship between ammonia emissions from dairy cattle manure and milk urea N (MUN; mg/dL) and to test whether the relationship was affected by stage of lactation and the dietary crude protein (CP) concentration. Twelve lactating multiparous Holstein cows were randomly selected and blocked into 3 groups of 4 cows intended to represent early [123 ± 26 d in milk (DIM)], mid (175 ± 3 DIM), and late (221 ± 12 DIM) lactation stages. Cows within each stage of lactation were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence within a split-plot Latin square design balanced for carryover effects. Stage of lactation formed the main plots (squares) and dietary CP levels (15, 17, 19, and 21% of diet dry matter) formed the subplots. The experimental periods lasted 7 d, with d 1 to 6 used for adjustment to diets and d 7 used for total collection of feces and urine as well as milk sample collection. The feces and urine from each cow were mixed in the proportions in which they were excreted to make slurry that was used to measure ammonia emissions at 22.5°C over 24 h using flux chambers. Samples of manure slurry were taken before and after ammonia emission measurements. The amount of slurry increased by 22% as dietary CP concentration increased from 15 to 21%, largely because of a greater urine volume (25.3 to 37.1 kg/d). Initial urea N concentration increased linearly with dietary CP from 153.5 to 465.2 mg/dL in manure slurries from cows fed 15 to 21% CP diets. Despite the large initial differences, the final concentration of urea N in manure slurries was less than 10.86 mg/dL for all dietary treatments. The final total ammoniacal N concentration in manure slurries increased linearly from 228.2 to 508.7 mg/dL as dietary CP content increased from 15 to 21%. Ammonia emissions from manure slurries ranged between 57 and 149 g of N/d per cow and increased linearly with dietary CP content, but were unaffected by stage of lactation. Ammonia emission expressed as a proportion of N intake increased with percentage CP in the diet from about 12 to 20%, whereas ammonia emission as a proportion of urinary urea N excretion decreased from 67 to 47%. There was a strong relationship between ammonia emission and MUN [ammonia emission (g/d per cow) = 25.0 (±6.72) + 5.03 (±0.373) × MUN (mg/dL); R² = 0.85], which was not different among lactation stages. Milk urea N concentration is one of several factors that allows prediction of ammonia emissions from dairy cattle manure.     

Effect of sodium chloride intake on urine volume,urinary urea excretion,and milk urea concentration in lactating dairy cattle

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN; mg of N/dL) has been shown to be related to excretion of urinary urea N (UUN; g of N/d) and total excretion of urinary N (UN; g of N/d) in dairy cows. In the present experiment, it was hypothesized that MUN and the relationship between MUN and UUN or UN is affected by urine volume as a result of dietary sodium chloride intake. Twelve lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (mean ± SD: milk production 28.1 ± 3.23 kg/d and 190 ± 41 d in milk), of which 4 were fitted with catheters in the urine bladder and jugular vein, were randomly assigned to 4 dietary levels of sodium chloride (3, 9, 14, and 19 g of Na/kg of DM) according to a triple 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cows were fed at 95% of ad libitum intake, excluding salt addition. Milk was analyzed for MUN and protein content; urine was analyzed for total N, urea, and creatinine content; feces were analyzed for total N and DM content; and blood plasma was analyzed for urea and creatinine content. Creatinine clearance rate (CCR; L/min) and renal urea reabsorption ratio were estimated based on plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine, and total excretion of urea and creatinine in urine. Intake of DM and N, milk production, and milk protein content were (mean ± SD), on average, 21.4 ± 1.24 kg/d, 522 ± 32.0 g/d, 25.4 ± 2.53 kg/d, and 3.64 ± 0.186%, respectively. A linear relationship was found between Na intake and urine production [urine (kg/d; mean ± SE) = 7.5 ± 4.33 + 0.136 ± 0.0143 × Na intake (g/d)] and between Na intake and MUN [MUN (mg/dL; mean ± SE) = 13.5 ± 0.35 − 0.0068 ± 0.00104 × Na intake (g/d)]. Despite the decrease in MUN with increased Na intake, UN excretion increased linearly with Na intake. Excretion of UUN was not affected by dietary Na content. A linear plateau relationship was observed between CCR and renal urea reabsorption. An increase in CCR coincided with an increase in calculated renal urea reabsorption until a CCR breakpoint value (mean ± SD) of 1.56 ± 0.063 L/min was reached. We conclude that Na intake is negatively related to MUN, whereas UUN is not affected. Variation in mineral intake levels that affect urine volume should, therefore, be taken into account when using MUN as an indicator of UUN in dairy cattle.     

Effects of the method of conservation of timothy on nitrogen metabolism in lactating dairy cows

Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated lactating primiparous Holstein cows were used to study the effects of different methods of conservation of timothy on N metabolism. Cows were assigned randomly to 2 replicated 3 × 3 Latin squares (35-d periods). Because of missing data from 2 cows, data were analyzed as a 3 × 4 Youden square. Diets contained a similar concentrate (44% of total ration on a dry matter basis) plus first-cut timothy conserved as hay, or as restrictively (formic) or extensively fermented silage (inoc). Crude protein contents were 10.4, 13.6, and 14.8% for hay, formic, and inoc, respectively. Hay and formic had a high soluble carbohydrate content (≥8.0% of dry matter) and formic and inoc had a high soluble protein content (≥8.0% of dry matter). Haying and restricting fermentation resulted in increased efficiency of partition to milk N (30.9, 28.2, 24.7% of N intake for hay, formic, and inoc, respectively). Despite a 14% lower N intake with hay, no effects of treatments were detected on microbial protein synthesis and apparent intestinal digestion of essential AA. Haying reduced feed protein degradation in the rumen, whereas this effect was not observed when restricting fermentation in the silage. Haying and restricting fermentation induced a lipogenic fermentation pattern in the rumen (4.55, 4.23, and 3.78 ratio of acetate to propionate for hay, formic, and inoc), but no effects on milk fat yield and plasma glucose were observed. Whole-body protein metabolism was unaffected by treatments.     

Analysis of milk urea nitrogen and lactose and their effect on longevity in Canadian dairy cattle

The aim of this study was to assess the phenotypic level of lactose and milk urea nitrogen concentration (MUN) and the association of these traits with functional survival of Canadian dairy cattle using a Weibull proportional hazards model. A total of 1,568,952 test-day records from 283,958 multiparous Holstein cows from 4,758 herds, and 79,036 test-day records from 26,784 multiparous Ayrshire cows from 384 herds, calving from 2001 to 2004, were used for the phenotypic analysis. The overall average lactose percentage and MUN for Ayrshires were 4.49% and 12.20 mg/dL, respectively. The corresponding figures for Holsteins were 4.58% and 11.11 mg/dL. Concentration of MUN increased with parity number, whereas lactose percentage decreased in later parities. Data for survival analysis consisted of 39,536 first-lactation cows from 1,619 herds from 2,755 sires for Holsteins and 2,093 cows in 228 herds from 157 sires for Ayrshires. Test-day lactose percentage and MUN were averaged within first lactation. Average lactose percentage and MUN were grouped into 5 classes (low, medium-low, medium, medium-high, and high) based on mean and standard deviation values. The statistical model included the effects of stage of lactation, season of production, the annual change in herd size, type of milk-recording supervision, age at first calving, effects of milk, fat, and protein yields calculated as within herd-year-parity deviations, herd-year-season of calving, lactose percentage and MUN classes, and sire. The relative culling rate was calculated for animals in each class after accounting for the remaining effects included in the model. Results showed that there was a statistically significant association between lactose percentage and MUN in first lactation with functional survival in both breeds. Ayrshire cows with high and low concentration of MUN tended to be culled at a higher than average rate. Instead, Holstein cows had a linear association, with decreasing relative risk of culling with increasing levels of MUN concentration. The relationship between lactose percentage and survival was similar across breeds, with higher risk of culling at low level of lactose, and lower risk of culling at high level of lactose percentage.     

Effects of amounts and degradability of dietary protein on lactation,nitrogen utilization,and excretion in early lactation Holstein cows

Five treatment diets varying in crude protein (CP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) were calculated to supply a postruminal lysine to methionine ratio of about 3:1. Diets were fed as a total mixed ration to 65 Holstein cows that were either primiparous (n = 28) or multiparous (n = 37) from 21 to 120 d in milk to determine effects on lactation and nitrogen utilization. Crude protein % and calculated RUP (% of CP) of diets [on a dry matter (DM) basis] were: 1) 19.4, 40 (HPMU), 2) 16.5, 34 (LPLU), 3) 16.8, 40 (LPMU), 4) 16.8, 46 (LPHU), 5) 17.2, 43 (LPHU + UREA), which is the result of adding 0.4% of the diet DM as urea to LPHU. The corn silage-based treatment diets contained an average of 24% acid detergent fiber and 1.6 Mcal/kg net energy of lactation. Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentrations and body weights (BW) were used to calculate predicted amounts of urinary nitrogen (N) using the relationship: urinary N (g/d) = 0.0259 x BW (kg) x MUN (mg/dl). Cows fed HPMU had greater CP and RUP intakes, which resulted in higher concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen, rumen ammonia, MUN, and predicted urinary N. Milk yield, fat yield, fat percent, protein yield, and protein percent were not significantly different among treatments. Parity primarily affected parameters that were related to body size and not measurements of N utilization. The interaction of treatment and parity was not significant for any measurements taken. In this study, cows fed LPHU had significantly lower MUN and predicted urinary N without limiting production. These results demonstrate the potential to optimize milk production while minimizing N excretion in lactating dairy cattle.     

Interaction between dietary content of protein and sodium chloride on milk urea concentration,urinary urea excretion,renal recycling of urea,and urea transfer to the gastrointestinal tract in dairy cows

Dietary protein and salt affect the concentration of milk urea nitrogen (MUN; mg of N/dL) and the relationship between MUN and excretion of urea nitrogen in urine (UUN; g of N/d) of dairy cattle. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of dietary protein and sodium chloride (NaCl) intake separately, and their interaction, on MUN and UUN, on the relationship between UUN and MUN, on renal recycling of urea, and on urea transfer to the gastrointestinal tract. Twelve second-parity cows (body weight of 645 ± 37 kg, 146 ± 29 d in milk, and a milk production of 34.0 ± 3.28 kg/d), of which 8 were previously fitted with a rumen cannula, were fitted with catheters in the urine bladder and jugular vein. The experiment had a split-plot arrangement with dietary crude protein (CP) content as the main plot factor [116 and 154 g of CP/kg of dry matter (DM)] and dietary NaCl content as the subplot factor (3.1 and 13.5 g of Na/kg of DM). Cows were fed at 95% of the average ad libitum feed intake of cows receiving the low protein diets. Average MUN and UUN were, respectively, 3.90 mg of N/dL and 45 g of N/d higher for the high protein diets compared with the low protein diets. Compared with the low NaCl diets, MUN was, on average, 1.74 mg of N/dL lower for the high NaCl diets, whereas UUN was unaffected. We found no interaction between dietary content of protein and NaCl on performance characteristics or on MUN, UUN, urine production, and renal clearance characteristics. The creatinine clearance rate was not affected by dietary content of protein and NaCl. Urea transfer to the gastrointestinal tract, expressed as a fraction of plasma urea entry rate, was negatively related to dietary protein, whereas it was not affected by dietary NaCl content. We found no interaction between dietary protein and NaCl content on plasma urea entry rate and gastrointestinal urea entry rate or their ratio. The relationship between MUN and UUN was significantly affected by the class variable dietary NaCl content: UUN = −17.7 ± 7.24 + 10.09 ± 1.016 × MUN + 2.26 ± 0.729 × MUN (for high NaCl); R² = 0.85. Removal of the MUN × NaCl interaction term lowered the coefficient of determination from 0.85 to 0.77. In conclusion, dietary protein content is positively related to MUN and UUN, whereas dietary NaCl content is negatively correlated to MUN but NaCl content is not related to UUN. We found no interaction between dietary protein and NaCl content on performance, MUN, UUN, or renal urea recycling, nor on plasma urea entry rate and urea transfer to the gastrointestinal tract. For a proper interpretation of the relationship between MUN and UUN, the effect of dietary NaCl should be taken into account, but we found no evidence that the effect of dietary NaCl on MUN is dependent on dietary protein content.     

Updating analysis of nitrogen balance experiments in dairy cows

Nitrogen balance (NB) experiments allow calculation of N retention in the body by subtracting N excreted in feces (NF), urine (NU) and milk (NM) from N intake (NI). In a previous study, we found that NB data from experiments with lactating dairy cows were generally high and, in the current meta-analysis, we update our earlier study with experiments from the last 2 decades and investigate probable causes of error. A total of 83 publications, with 86 experiments and 307 dietary treatments, were selected from top-ranked scientific journals that reported all NB components. The NB and NB components were analyzed by linear regression with a model that used NI as an independent variable and experiment as a random effect. The NF, NU and NM each represented 27 to 34% of NI, and the remaining N accumulated in the body was equal to 38.5 g/d (overall SD = 43.2 g/d). Retained N (as g/d or % of NI) increased linearly with NI, and this led to unlikely high N retentions, especially at high NI. Both NF and NU (g/d) increased with increasing NI, and we assume that some N in feces and urine were unaccounted. Only ~22% of experiments measured N in wet feces samples and, when analysis used dry samples, no mention of corrections due to potential volatile N losses during drying were reported. No experimentalists preserved feces immediately to prevent volatilization during collection. Moreover, ~27% of experiments estimated urine volumes by concentration of creatinine in spot samples, and in these experiments, NU was ~12% lower than those where total urine was collected (168 vs. 191 g/d). Only 40 experiments reported the volume and concentration of acids used for urine preservation, 33 furnished incomplete information, and the remainder did not describe the urine preservation method. In conclusion, the results of NB experiments using lactating dairy cows overestimate N retention, and the losses of N from feces and urine are the most probable reason.     

Effects of nitrogen supply on inter-organ fluxes of urea-N and renal urea-N kinetics in lactating Holstein cows

The effects of decreasing ruminal urea infusion in lactating dairy cows fed a basal diet deficient in rumen degradable protein on inter-organ urea-N fluxes, epithelial urea-N extraction, and renal urea-N kinetics were investigated. Eight Danish Holstein cows fitted with a ruminal cannula and permanent indwelling catheters in the major splanchnic blood vessels and the gastrosplenic vein were used. The cows were randomly allocated to a triplicate incomplete 3 × 3 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Treatments were continuous ventral ruminal infusion of water, 4.1 g of feed urea/kg of dry matter intake, and 8.5 g of feed urea/kg of dry matter intake. Dry matter intake and milk yield decreased linearly with decreasing urea infusion. Arterial blood urea-N and ruminal ammonia concentrations decreased linearly with decreasing urea infusion. In absolute amounts, the urea-N recycling did not increase when urea infusion was decreased. Arterial urea-N extraction across the portal-drained viscera and rumen wall increased linearly with decreasing urea infusion (2.46, 3.65, and 4.32 ± 0.31% and 7.5, 11.5, and 16.9 ± 0.9%, respectively), indicating that cows responded to the changes in N supply. The relative urea-N extraction across the ruminal wall increased compared with the total portal-drained viscera extraction. We observed a postprandial decrease in ruminal extraction of arterial urea-N that might reflect that the activity of the protein, presumably facilitating urea-N transport, is regulated by ruminal ammonia. The urea-N clearance by the kidneys decreased (35, 30, and 25 ± 2 L/h) and the urea-N reabsorbed by the kidney increased (42, 51 and 56 ± 3%) with decreasing urea infusion, indicating that the kidneys salvaged urea-N with low-N supply. The urea transporter B mRNA abundance in rumen papillae (papillae harvested at sampling days) was not affected by dietary N supply. The study showed, that rumen wall extraction of arterial urea-N is subjected to both long- and short-term regulation. Extraction increases with decreasing N supply long-term; however, a short-term postprandial decrease in extraction was observed. No association between long-term adaptation of urea-N extraction across the rumen wall and urea transporter B mRNA abundance could be demonstrated.     

Genetic analysis of milk urea nitrogen and lactose and their relationships with other production traits in Canadian Holstein cattle

The objective of this research was to estimate heritabilities of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and lactose in the first 3 parities and their genetic relationships with milk, fat, protein, and SCS in Canadian Holsteins. Data were a random sample of complete herds (60,645 test day records of 5,022 cows from 91 herds) extracted from the edited data set, which included 892,039 test-day records of 144,622 Holstein cows from 4,570 herds. A test-day animal model with multiple-trait random regression and the Gibbs sampling method were used for parameter estimation. Regression curves were modeled using Legendre polynomials of order 4. A total of 6 separate 4-trait analyses, which included MUN, lactose, or both (yield or percentage) with different combinations of production traits (milk, fat and protein yield, fat and protein percentages, and somatic cell score) were performed. Average daily heritabilities were moderately high for MUN (from 0.384 to 0.414), lactose kilograms (from 0.466 to 0.539), and lactose percentage (from 0.478 to 0.508). Lactose yield was highly correlated with milk yield (0.979). Lactose percentage and MUN were not genetically correlated with milk yield. However, lactose percentage was significantly correlated with somatic cell score (−0.202). The MUN was correlated with fat (0.425) and protein percentages (0.20). Genetic correlations among parities were high for MUN, lactose percentage, and yield. Estimated breeding values (EBV) of bulls for MUN were correlated with fat percentage EBV (0.287) and EBV of lactose percentage were correlated with lactation persistency EBV (0.329). Correlations between lactose percentage and MUN with fertility traits were close to zero, thus diminishing the potential of using those traits as possible indicators of fertility.     

Effects of milk urea nitrogen and other factors on probability of conception of dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and other factors and the probability of conception in dairy cows. Data were retrieved from the Lancaster Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA). A total of 713 dairy herds and 10,271 dairy cows were included in the study. Logistic regression was used to determine the within-herd effects of MUN, milk production, lactation number, and breeding season on the probability of conception for each of 3 services. Within herds, MUN displayed a slight negative association with probability of conception at first service. For example, there was a 2- to 4-percentage unit decrease in conception rate at first service with a 10-mg/dL increase in MUN. In among-herd regression analysis, there was no effect of MUN on probability of conception. These results suggest that MUN may be related to conditions affecting reproduction of individual cows within a herd. Diet formulation usually would affect MUN equally among all cows at a similar stage of lactation in a herd. Because there was no effect of MUN among herds, diet formulation did not appear to affect conception rate.     

Short communication: Milk urea nitrogen as a predictor of urinary nitrogen and urea nitrogen excretions of late-lactation dairy cows fed nitrogen-limiting diets

Our objectives were to assess the relationships between milk urea N (MUN), serum urea N (SUN), urine N (UN), and urinary urea N (UUN) in late-lactation cows fed N-limiting diets and compare these relationships with those previously established. Data were from a pen-based study in which 128 Holstein cows had been assigned to 1 of 16 pens in a randomized complete block design to assess the effects of diets containing 16.2, 14.4, 13.1, and 11.8% crude protein (CP, dry matter basis) during a 12-wk period. At least half of the cows in each pen were randomly selected to collect pen-level samples of serum and urine in wk 3, 7, and 11, when wk in lactation averaged 35, 39, and 43, respectively. A mixed model was developed to study the relationship of MUN with SUN, UN, and UUN. Week of lactation did not affect the relation between MUN and SUN across dietary treatments. However, we found a week × MUN interaction, suggesting that between wk 35 and 43 of lactation, UN excretion decreased from 89 to 73 g/d (?17 g/d) when MUN was 6.0 mg/dL (11.8% dietary CP) but increased from 142 to 149 g/d (+7 g/d) when MUN was 13.3 mg/dL (16.2% dietary CP). These effects were essentially due to changes in UUN excretion, which declined from 54 to 37 g/d (?17 g/d) and increased from 112 to 117 g/d (+5 g/d) when MUN was 6.0 and 13.3 mg/dL, respectively. When MUN was 11.2 mg/dL (15% dietary CP), UN and UUN excretions remained constant over time. Based on root mean squared prediction error and the concordance correlation coefficient, these data did not conform to most previously published prediction equations because of both mean and slope biases. The discrepancy could have resulted from difference in study design (cow vs. pen as experimental unit), dietary treatments (energy vs. N-limiting diets), frequency of measurement and duration of adaptation period (single measurement after 1 to 3 wk of adaptation vs. repeated measurements over a 12-wk period), method for determining urine volume (total collection vs. spot sampling), and the assay used to measure MUN. However, our data captured changes in kidney physiology that warrant further studies of long-term renal adaptation to N-limiting diets.     

Cow and herd variation in milk urea nitrogen concentrations in lactating dairy cattle

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) is correlated with N balance, N intake, and dietary N content, and thus is a good indicator of proper feeding management with respect to protein. It is commonly used to monitor feeding programs to achieve environmental goals; however, genetic diversity also exists among cows. It was hypothesized that phenotypic diversity among cows could bias feed management decisions when monitoring tools do not consider genetic diversity associated with MUN. The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of cow and herd variation on MUN. Data from 2 previously published research trials and a field trial were subjected to multivariate regression analyses using a mixed model. Analyses of the research trial data showed that MUN concentrations could be predicted equally well from diet composition, milk yield, and milk components regardless of whether dry matter intake was included in the regression model. This indicated that cow and herd variation could be accurately estimated from field trial data when feed intake was not known. Milk urea N was correlated with dietary protein and neutral detergent fiber content, milk yield, milk protein content, and days in milk for both data sets. Cow was a highly significant determinant of MUN regardless of the data set used, and herd trended to significance for the field trial data. When all other variables were held constant, a percentage unit change in dietary protein concentration resulted in a 1.1 mg/dL change in MUN. Least squares means estimates of MUN concentrations across herds ranged from a low of 13.6 mg/dL to a high of 17.3 mg/dL. If the observed MUN for the high herd were caused solely by high crude protein feeding, then the herd would have to reduce dietary protein to a concentration of 12.8% of dry matter to achieve a MUN concentration of 12 mg/dL, likely resulting in lost milk production. If the observed phenotypic variation is due to genetic differences among cows, genetic choices could result in herds that exceed target values for MUN when adhering to best management practices, which is consistent with the trend for differences in MUN among herds.     

Effects of low rumen-degradable protein or abomasal fructan infusion on diet digestibility and urinary nitrogen excretion in lactating dairy cows

Post-ileal carbohydrate fermentation in dairy cows converts blood urea nitrogen (BUN) into fecal microbial protein. This should reduce urinary N, increase fecal N, and reduce manure NH₃ volatilization. However, if intestinal BUN recycling competes with ruminal BUN recycling, hindgut fermentation may reduce NH₃ for rumen microbial protein synthesis. Eight lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial. Diets contained either adequate rumen-degradable protein (RDP; high RDP) or were 28% below predicted RDP requirements (low RDP). Cows received abomasal infusions of either 10 L/d of saline or 10 L/d of saline containing 1 kg/d of inulin. We hypothesized that reducing ruminal NH₃, either by restricting RDP intake or by diverting BUN to feces with inulin, would reduce rumen microbial protein synthesis, as would be evidenced by significant main effects of treatments on rumen NH₃, milk production, and urinary purine derivative excretion. Furthermore, we thought it likely that effects of inulin might be greater when rumen NH₃ was already low, as would be indicated by significant interactions between inulin infusion and dietary RDP level on rumen NH₃, milk production, and urinary purine derivative excretion. Rumen NH₃ was reduced by the low-RDP diet, but urinary purine derivative excretion and milk production were unaffected. However, the low-RDP diet reduced apparent total tract digestibility of OM and starch and reduced in situ rumen NDF digestibility. Abomasal inulin reduced the BUN concentration but did not affect milk yield or rumen NH₃, suggesting that RDP requirements are not affected by hindgut fermentation. Inulin shifted 23 g/d of N from urine to feces. However, based on fecal purine excretion, we estimated that only 8 g/d of the increased fecal N was due to increased fecal microbial output. Inulin reduced true digestibility of dietary protein or increased nonmicrobial as well as microbial endogenous losses. This latter effect may be an artifact of our experimental model that delivers easily fermented, soluble fiber to the small intestine. Normal dietary alterations to similarly increase large intestinal fermentation would probably arise from larger quantities of less rapidly digested carbohydrates. Increasing hindgut fermentation in practical diets should reduce manure NH₃ volatilization without impairing rumen fermentation, but the reduction is likely to be small.     

Effect of dietary level of rumen-degraded protein on production and nitrogen metabolism in lactating dairy cows

Twenty-eight (8 with ruminal cannulas) lactating Holstein cows were assigned to 4 × 4 Latin squares and fed diets with different levels of rumen-degraded protein (RDP) to study the effect of RDP on production and N metabolism. Diets contained [dry matter (DM) basis] 37% corn silage, 13% alfalfa silage, and 50% concentrate. The concentrate contained solvent and lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal and urea, and was adjusted to provide RDP at: 13.2, 12.3, 11.7, and 10.6% of DM in diets A to D, respectively. Intake of DM and yield of milk, fat-corrected milk, and fat were not affected by treatments. Dietary RDP had positive linear effects on milk true protein content and microbial non-ammonia N (NAN) flow at the omasal canal, and a quadratic effect on true protein yield, with maximal protein production at 12.3% RDP. However, dietary RDP had a positive linear effect on total N excretion, with urinary N accounting for most of the increase, and a negative linear effect on environmental N efficiency (kg of milk produced per kg of N excreted). Therefore, a compromise between profitability and environmental quality was achieved at a dietary RDP level of 11.7% of DM. Observed microbial NAN flow and RDP supply were higher and RUP flow was lower than those predicted by the NRC (2001) model. The NRC (2001) model overpredicted production responses to RUP compared with the results in this study. Replacing default NRC degradation rates for protein supplements with rates measured in vivo resulted in similar observed and predicted values, suggesting that in situ degradation rates used by the NRC are slower than apparent rates in this study.     

Sources of variation in milk urea nitrogen in Ohio dairy herds

The purpose of this study was to estimate the amount of variation in milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentrations attributable to test-day, individual cow, and herd effects and to describe factors associated with MUN measurements in Ohio dairy herds. The data came from 24 Holstein herds, half of which were classified as low producing (LP) [rolling herd average (RHA) milk production < 7,258 kg] and half as high producing (HP) herds (RHA production > 10,433 kg). MUN concentration was measured from cow's monthly test-day milk samples. The data were analyzed using multilevel modeling technique in MLwiN, separately for LP and HP herds. The unadjusted mean MUN was 13.9 mg/dl for the HP herds and 11.3 mg/dl for the LP herds. The variance structure was different between the two groups. Most of the variability was found at test-day level in the LP herds, but at herd level in HP herds. MUN was lowest during the first month of lactation, and also season was associated with MUN in both groups. Test-day milk yield, milk fat percentage, and SCC were associated with MUN in the HP herds. With significant explanatory variables in the model, proportionally more of the variation was explained at herd level and less at test day level in both groups. Lower variability in MUN between test days in the HP herds may indicate more consistent day-to-day feeding and management within a herd. The great variability between test days should be considered when interpreting MUN and samples should be collected at the same time of the day to minimize day-to-day variability.     

Estimation of genetic parameters and single-step genome-wide association studies for milk urea nitrogen in Holstein cattle

The main objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for milk urea nitrogen (MUN) in Holstein cattle and to conduct a single-step (ss)GWAS to identify candidate genes associated with MUN. Phenotypic measurements from 24,435 Holstein cows were collected from March 2013 to July 2019 in 9 dairy farms located in the Beijing area, China. A total of 2,029 cows were genotyped using the Illumina 150K Bovine Bead Chip, containing 121,188 SNP. A single-trait repeatability model was used to evaluate the genetic background of MUN. We found that MUN is a trait with low heritability (0.06 ± 0.004) and repeatability (0.12). Considering similar milk production levels, a lower MUN concentration indicates higher nitrogen digestibility. The genetic correlations between MUN and milk yield, net energy concentration, fat percentage, protein percentage, and lactose percentage were positive and ranged from 0.02 to 0.26. The genetic correlation between MUN and somatic cell score (SCS) was negative (?0.18), indicating that animals with higher MUN levels tend to have lower SCS. Both ssGWAS and pathway enrichment analyses were used to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying MUN. A total of 18 SNP (located on BTA11, BTA12, BTA14, BTA17, and BTA18) were found to be significantly associated with MUN. The genes CFAP77, CAMSAP1, CACNA1B, ADGRB1, FARP1, and INTU are considered to be candidate genes for MUN. These candidate genes are associated with important biological processes such as protein and lipid metabolism and binding to specific proteins. This set of candidate genes, metabolic pathways, and their functions provide a better understanding of the genomic architecture and physiological mechanisms underlying MUN in Holstein cattle.     

Milk urea nitrogen variation explained by differences in urea transport into the gastrointestinal tract in lactating dairy cows

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and blood urea nitrogen are correlated with nitrogen balance and nitrogen excretion; however, there is also a genetic component to MUN concentrations that could be associated with differences in urea transport. It was hypothesized that a portion of the variation in MUN concentrations among cows is caused by variation in gastrointestinal and kidney urea clearance rates. Eight lactating cows with varying MUN concentrations while fed a common diet were infused with [¹⁵N¹⁵N]urea to determine urea N entry rate (UER), gastrointestinal entry rate, returned to ornithine cycle, urea N used for anabolism, urea N excretion in feces and urine. Urea clearance rates by the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract were calculated from isotopic enrichment of urea excretion in urine and gut entry rate, respectively, and plasma urea N concentrations (PUN). Over the course of the experiment, animals weighed an average of 506 ± 62 kg and produced 26.3 ± 4.39 kg of milk/d, with MUN concentrations ranging from 11.6 to 17.3 mg/dL (average of 14.9 ± 2.1 mg/dL). Plasma urea N was positively correlated with UER, urea N excretion in urine, and urea N used for anabolism. Plasma urea N and MUN were negatively correlated with gut clearance rates and ratio of gastrointestinal entry rate to UER. This relationship supports the hypothesis that differences in gut urea transport activity among animals causes variation in PUN and MUN concentrations, and that cows with high PUN and MUN are less efficient at recycling PUN to the gastrointestinal tract and thus may be more susceptible to ruminal N deficiencies when fed low RDP diets. Such biological variation in urea metabolism necessitates an adequate safety margin when setting regulations for maximal MUN levels as an indicator of herd N efficiency.     

Effects of heat stress on energetic metabolism in lactating Holstein cows

Heat stress has an enormous economic impact on the global dairy industry, but the mechanisms by which hyperthermia negatively affect systemic physiology and milk synthesis are not clear. Study objectives were to evaluate production parameters and metabolic variables in lactating dairy cows during short-term heat stress or pair-fed conditions coupled with bST administration. Twenty-two multiparous Holstein cows were subjected to 3 experimental periods: 1) thermoneutral conditions with ad libitum intake for 7 d (P1); 2) heat stress (HS) with ad libitum intake (n = 10) or pair-fed (PF) in thermoneutral conditions (n = 12) for 7 d (P2), and 3) 7 d of HS or PF in conditions as described in P2 with recombinant bovine somatotropin administered on d 1 (P3). All cows received an intravenous glucose tolerance test (GTT) on d 5 of each period. Heat stress conditions were cyclical and temperatures ranged from 29.4 to 38.9°C. Rectal temperatures and respiration rates increased during heat stress (38.6-40.4°C and 44-89 breaths/min, respectively). Heat stress reduced dry matter intake by 30% and by design PF cows had similar intake reductions (28%). During heat stress and pair-feeding, milk yield decreased by 27.6% (9.6 kg) and 13.9% (4.8 kg), respectively, indicating that reduced feed intake accounted for only 50% of the decreased milk production. Milk yield increased with recombinant bovine somatotropin in both HS (9.7%) and PF (16.1%) cows. Cows in both groups were in positive energy balance (3.95 Mcal/d) during P1 but entered negative energy balance during P2 and P3 (−5.65 Mcal/d). Heat stress and pair-feeding treatments decreased (9.3%) basal glucose concentrations. Heat stress conditions had no effect on basal NEFA levels during P2; however, PF cows (despite a similar calculated energy balance) had a 2-fold increase in basal NEFA concentrations. Both groups had increased plasma urea nitrogen levels during P2 and P3 compared with P1. Basal insulin levels increased (37%) during P2 and P3 in HS cows but did not differ between periods in PF cows. During P2 and compared with P1, PF cows had a decreased rate of glucose disposal, whereas HS cows had a similar disposal rate following the GTT. During P2 and compared with P1, PF cows had a reduced insulin response whereas HS cows had a similar insulin response to the GTT. In summary, reduced nutrient intake accounted for only 50% of heat stress-induced decreases in milk yield, and feed intake-independent shifts in postabsorptive glucose and lipid homeostasis may contribute to the additional reduction in milk yield.