Variations with Breed,Age, Season,Yield, Stage of Lactation and Herd in the Concentration of Urea in Bulk Milk and Individual Cow’s Milk

The concentration of urea in the milk of 510 dairy cows in 10 herds was determined at regular intervals for a year. The herds contained approximately equal numbers of Swedish Red and White, and Swedish Holstein cows. The mean ± sd concentration in the samples from individual cows was 5.32 ± 1.13 mmol/1, and the mean concentration in bulk milk was 5.39 ± 0.96 mmol/1. These values indicated that on average the herds were fed too much protein relative to their intake of energy throughout the year.Herd factors had a strong influence on the milk urea concentration. The concentration was lower during the first month of lactation than later in the lactation, and lower when the cows were housed during the winter than when they were grazing. There was a weak positive relationship between the daily milk yield and urea concentration, particularly during late lactation, but there was no relationship with either breed or age. Bulk milk urea was a reliable guide to the average urea concentration of a herd.     

Bulk milk urea concentrations and their relationship with cow fertility in grazing dairy herds in southern Chile

Milk urea determination is being used as a broad indicator of protein/energy imbalance in dairy herds. The main purpose of this study was to compare blood and bulk milk urea values in grazing herds, to evaluate their seasonal variation under South Chilean conditions, and to examine their potential relationships with herd fertility. The association between herd blood urea concentration (mean of seven lactating cows) and bulk milk urea concentration (tank containing milk from the previous 24 h) was determined in 21 diary herds. Reference values, seasonal and herd variance, and the frequency of herds with values outside a range of 2.5 to 7.3 mmol/l were determined in bulk milk samples obtained monthly for a period of one year from 82 suppliers at two creameries located in southern Chile. Finally, bulk milk urea was measured every two weeks in samples from 24 herds, and the first service conception rate (FSCR) from 2153 dairy cows was determined. Mean bulk urea concentration was highly correlated with mean herd blood urea concentration (r = 0.95; p < 0.01). Mean urea concentration in the bulk milk samples obtained during one year from 82 herds was 4.9 +/- 1.2 mmol/l, with a range of 1.5 to 11.6 mmol/l. The highest values were found during spring and the lowest values during the summer. There was a high seasonal variation (CV = 13-47%) and between-herd variation (CV = 20-31%). Out of a total of 984 samples, 5.4% had urea values > 7.3 mmol/l and 3.8% had values < 2.5 mmol/l. Of the 82 herds, 27% had values outside the reference interval (2.5-7.3 mmol/l) on two or more occasions. FSCR was lower in herds when the bulk milk urea was > 7.3 mmol/l (50.7%) than in cows, where the urea concentration was < 5.0 mmol/l (73.8%) at the time of insemination. The study concluded that bulk milk urea concentrations provided information similar to herd blood urea concentrations in local grazing dairy herds. There was a high frequency of herds with abnormal values, with large variations between herds and between seasons. Increased milk urea concentrations during spring were associated with lower conception rates.     

Experimental Trials Assessed by Two Different Protein Evaluation Systems

Carlsson, J., and B. Pehrson: The influence of the dietary balance between energy and protein on milk urea concentration. Experimental trials assessed by two different protein evaluation systems. Acta vet. scand. 1994, 35, 193-205.–Twentythree dairy cows were fed rations with different proportions of energy and digestible crude protein (DCP). When the ration was balanced for energy and DCP according to Swedish standard the cows’ milk urea concentration was 4.66-4.92 mmol/1 (95% CI of mean). With increasing intakes of DCP, fed together with standard levels of energy, the mean milk urea concentration increased in proportion to the surplus of DCP. In contrast, the concentration of urea decreased when the cows were overfed with energy at the same time as they were underfed with protein.When the rations were recalculated in accordance with the AAT/PBV system for dietary protein evaluation the 95% CI for the mean milk urea concentration of the cows receiving a balanced ration was 3.76-4.56 mmol/1. The concentration of urea was dependent primarily on the PBV. When the 2 protein evaluation systems were compared there was a strong correlation between PBV and DCP. Ammonia was the only constituent of the rumen whose concentration was strongly correlated with the milk urea concentration.Taken together with earlier data the present results suggest that a milk urea concentration between 4.0 and 5.5 mmol/1 should be regarded as normal at least when cows are fed conventional feedstuffs.     

The usefulness of determining urea levels and the acidity of milk for evaluating protein nutrition in cows

Samples of blood, urine and milk were examined in 94 clinically healthy cows of 10 herds. The average milk samples and the feed ration used in these herds were also examined. The determination of urea concentration and milk acidity was evaluated as to its suitability for the assessment of the protein-glycide ratio and acid-base activity of feed ration. The determination of urea content in an average milk sample was found to be an expeditious procedure. The results of this examination can be used for the evaluation of the protein supply to cows with the same reliability as the determination of serum urea. The passage of urea from serum to milk was proportional. The correlation coefficient for the relation of both parameters was statistically highly significant (r = 0.940). According to the calculated equation of regression line (f2 = 0.734 + 0.669 X f1), the values from 2.94 to 4.10 mmol/l are approximately adequate to the reference range of serum urea from 3.30 to 5.00 mmol/l in milk used in Czechoslovakia. The acidity of milk was found to have a low sensitivity for being used with success for the determination of the acid-base activity of feed ration. The examination of the net acid-base urinary output cannot be replaced by the determination of milk acidity.     

同/异型发酵乳酸菌对全株玉米青贮营养成分和瘤胃降解特征的影响

以新饲玉10号全株青贮玉米为研究材料,旨在探究同/异型发酵乳酸菌对其主要营养成分和瘤胃降解率特征的影响。采用真空袋法调制青贮,共设计4个发酵处理,分别为不添加任何菌剂(CK);复合同型发酵乳酸菌植物乳杆菌+戊糖片球菌(T),添加量为1∶1,1×10^5 cfu·g^-1;异型发酵乳酸菌布氏乳杆菌(Y),添加量为1×10^5 cfu·g^-1;复合同、异型发酵乳酸菌(TY),添加量为1∶1∶1,1×10^5 cfu·g^-1。通过对模拟开窖60 d主要营养成分和绵羊瘤胃降解特征参数的分析。结果表明:干物质(DM)、中/酸性洗涤纤维(N/ADF)、可溶性碳水化合物和粗脂肪含量最优均为Y处理,粗蛋白和淀粉含量各试验处理均极显著高于CK处理(P<0.01),粗灰分含量最高为CK处理。DM和NDF有效降解率按高低排序均为T和Y处理>CK和TY处理(P<0.01)。有机物(OM)有效降解率最高为Y处理(P=0.003)。各处理ADF有效降解率间差异不显著(P>0.05)。说明玉米青贮中Y处理可显著增加开窖60 d时各营养成分含量(粗灰分除外),且显著提高DM和OM有效降解率,TY处理可显著提高NDF有效降解率。综合营养成分和有效降解率12项指标进行隶属函数评价,各处理按优劣排序为:Y处理>T处理>TY处理>CK处理。     

Ammonia and urea in corn silage-based complete mixed diets for dairy cows

Source of supplemental N was evaluated in three corn silage-based complete mixed diets (CMD) fed to lactating dairy cows. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and contained 60% corn silage and 40% concentrate on a dry matter basis. Diets were: CMD-A, ammoniated corn silage (ammonia provided 16% of total N) plus concentrate; CMD-U, untreated corn silage and concentrate (16% of total N from urea) and CMD-S, untreated corn silage plus concentrate with soybean meal. Ammoniation at 1.0% of dry weight increased crude protein content of silage from 8.5 to 12.7%. Daily means for cows fed CMD-A, CMD-U and CMD-S were: 24.2, 24.3 and 24.5 kg of fat-corrected milk; 3.17, 3.10 and 3.15% milk protein; 3.41, 3.67 and 3.63% milk fat and 3.02, 2.99 and 3.02 kg intake of total dry matter/100 kg body weight. Differences were not significant except for reduced milk fat percentage for cows fed the ammoniated corn silage diet. Both anhydrous ammonia and urea at 16% of total dietary N were found to be practical and economical substitutes for part of the supplemental soy protein. When compared to CMD with all soybean protein, greater savings in feed costs resulted from inclusion of ammoniated corn silage than with inclusion of urea.     

Levels of milk urea, plasma constituents and rumen liquid ammonia in relation to the feeding of dairy cows during early lactation

The study was undertaken to establish the relationships between milk and plasma urea levels and protein supply, using traditional and new measures of feed protein value. Samples of milk and plasma were taken before morning feeding twice weekly for the first 3 months post partum from 21 multiparous cows and 7 heifers. Samples of rumen fluid were collected every second week. The cows were distributed into 4 different feeding groups. Feeding regimens were factorial with respect to protein content of the concentrates (i.e. Low protein (Lp): 12.5% digestible crude protein (DCP) vs. High protein (Hp): 17.5% DCP) and concentrate allowances (i.e. Low energy (Le): substandard vs. High energy (He): standard). Silage was offered ad libitum. The within-animal coefficients of correlation between milk and plasma urea levels, and between milk urea levels and the levels of ammonia in the rumen fluid wer r = 0.88 (p less than 0.001) and r = 0.75 (p less than 0.001), respectively. Analysis of variance showed the following sources of urea variation to be significant: Protein balance in the rumen (PBV), intake of DCP, intake of amino acids absorbed in the intestine (AAT), intake of fattening feed units, and the individual animal factor. A similar tendency was found for the variation of ammonia in rumen fluid. The coefficients of determination (R2 model) were not increased by introducing protein balance (BADCP), the amount of PBV and AAT in the dry matter ingested, or the protein/energy ratio as alternative parameters of protein intake in the models. The levels of protein or energy intake did not significantly influence the levels of plasma albumin. The correlations between urea levels and other plasma indicators of metabolic status and liver function were generally low.     

含水量和混播比例对青南牧区燕麦-箭筈豌豆/毛苕子混播青贮品质的影响

将青南牧区燕麦和箭筈豌豆或毛苕子以不同的混播比例(18∶2、17∶3、16∶4、15∶5)、原料含水量(40%~70%)和青贮方式(整株与切短青贮)青贮并评价发酵品质,筛选出最佳的加工利用模式。参照德国农业协会青贮饲草评分标准,70个青贮处理中品质等级1级的35个,占总数的50.0%;品质等级2级的18个,占25.7%;品质等级3级的15个,占21.4%;品质等级4级的2个,占2.9%。总体上看:含水量50%~60%切短青贮感官评定得分较高。实验室化学测定结果表明,从pH值、乳酸含量、粗蛋白含量和氨态氮占总氮比值4个指标比较,h₁t₂s₅₀、h₁t₂s₅₅、h₁t₂s₆₀、h₁t₂s₆₅和h₄t₂s₅₀、h₄t₂s₅₅、h₄t₂s₆₀、h₄t₂s₆₅ 等8个处理综合表现较好。综合现场感官评定、实验室化学检测以及饲草产量,建议在青南牧区采用h₄t₂s₅₀处理方式进行牧草生产与青贮。     

Concentrate supplementation responses of the pasture-fed dairy cow

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of increasing amounts of cereal-based concentrate on milk production. The study consisted of a series of three separate experiments in which cows were grazed in intensive rotation on timothy-meadow fescue pasture. In Experiment 1, 28 multiparous Holstein–Friesian cows received 0, 3, 6 and 9 kg concentrate in a cross-over designed trial with a fixed daily herbage allowance of 21 kg DM/cow. The energy-corrected milk yield increased linearly 0.84 kg/kg DM (P < 0.001), up to the 9 kg concentrate level. The milk fat (P < 0.001) and urea (P < 0.001) content decreased linearly (0.41 g/kg DM and 0.15 mmol/kg DM, respectively). The milk protein content tended (P = 0.08) to increase 0.10 g/kg DM with increasing supplementation.

In Experiment 2, 17 primiparous cows and 28 multiparous cows were used in a randomized-block designed trial with 3, 6 and 9 kg concentrate supplementation and a fixed 25 kg DM herbage allowance. The energy corrected milk yield increased linearly (P < 0.01) 0.67 kg/kg DM, whereas the milk urea content decreased linearly (P < 0.001) 0.27 mmol/kg DM. The milk protein content increased and the fat content decreased, but these differences were not significant.

In Experiment 3, a cross-over design was used to assess the response to concentrate supplementation of 24 multiparous cows (treatments: 6, 9 and 12 kg; fixed herbage allowance 25 kg DM) and 12 primiparous cows (treatments: 4, 7 and 10 kg; herbage allowance > 25 kg DM). The energy-corrected milk yield of the multiparous cows varied quadratically (P_quad < 0.001; 30.0, 32.5 and 32.2 kg for 6, 9 and 12 kg supplementation, respectively). Supplementation linearly decreased the urea (P < 0.001) 0.13 mmol/kg DM and fat (P < 0.001) 0.46 g/kg DM contents. The milk fat content also varied quadratically, showing the lowest content with the 12 kg level (P_quad < 0.05; 37.3, 37.3 and 34.9 g/kg for 6, 9 and 12 kg supplementation, respectively). The energy-corrected milk yield of the primiparous cows increased linearly (P < 0.001) 0.54 kg/kg DM up to 10 kg supplementation, whereas the milk urea (P < 0.001) and fat contents decreased linearly (P < 0.01) by 0.19 mmol/kg DM and 0.61 g/kg DM, respectively.

The results showed that the milk response remained linear up to the 9 kg supplementation level, but the highest level of supplementation resulted in only a marginal increase in milk yield. There was no interaction between season and milk or milk protein yield, which indicates that it is possible to maintain stable grazing conditions during the main grazing season in Nordic latitudes. The results support to some extent the hypothesis that the marginal milk response to supplementation increases with increasing milk production.     

Some attempts to improve the nutritive value of urea for dairy cows. 3. Its adjunction to fermentable carbohydrates: starea

Starea, an intimate mixture of gelatinized wheat starch and urea, was tested again urea with regard to the ammonia release in the rumen, the amount and composition of the nitrogen fraction reaching the intestine, the nitrogen and energy balances, and the performance of lactating cows. Maize silage was the basal feed in all experiments. The ammonia concentration in the rumen liquor was measured in two cows fitted with a permanent rumen cannula. The curve of the ammonia concentration was about the same with both nitrogen supplements, and peaked at about 250 mg/l (14.7 mmol/l) two hours postfeeding. Two dry cows fitted with a re-entrant cannula at 10 cm from the pylorus were fed with maize silage supplemented with increasing amounts of either urea or starea. The duodenal nitrogen flow rapidly levelled off with both supplements and no significant difference between them could be detected. The amount of ammonia in the duodenal digesta remained very low. Nitrogen digestibility measured in lactating cows was not noticeably affected when starea instead of urea was added to maize silage. However, nitrogen excretion in the urine tended to decrease, while nitrogen secretion in milk was augmented with starea. The digestibility of the rations and their metabolizable energy supply were not significantly affected, and milk production was quite the same with both supplements, apart from the higher amount of milk protein obtained with starea compared with urea. As a general conclusion from the whole work conducted on the nutritive value of urea for lactating cows, it can be stated that the decline in performance of the animals after substitution of urea for conventional protein is mainly due to a decrease of the metabolizable energy concentration in the diets. None of the attempts tested in an effort to improve the nutritive value of urea was able to overcome this difficulty.     

Feeding dairy calves and replacement heifers in South-western Sweden: a survey

Daily feed rations, their nutrient contents and live weight gains were recorded for calves and replacement heifers from birth to calving in 122 Swedish dairy herds. Preweaned calves were fed whole milk (45% of the herds), milk replacer alone or milk replacer combined with whole milk. Calf starters were the most frequently used concentrates for preweaned calves, whereas grain dominated for weaned calves and heifers. Grain was supplemented with protein concentrates until 6 months of age and at calving. Grass/clover hay was the dominant forage for preweaned calves, whereas grass/clover silage alone or in combination with hay was the most common forage for calves and replacement heifers from 6 months of age. Heifers grazed semi-natural grasslands, leys or a combination of semi-natural grasslands and leys in 33, 15 and 52% of the herds, respectively. According to Swedish recommendations, calves in a majority of the herds were fed too low concentrations of crude protein from weaning to 6 months of age and calves were fed too low a metabolizable energy content inadequate for a daily weight gain of 700 g at weaning. Median live weight gain from birth to calving was only 567 g per day. Correct feed ration formulations and strategic grazing management could be means to increase weight gain and hence to decrease rearing costs of calves and replacement heifers in Swedish dairy herds.     

Fat infiltration in the liver of Finnish Ayrshire cows during early lactation

The incidence and severity of fat infiltration in the liver of Finnish Ayrshire cows at 1 and 8 weeks after calving were studied. All multiparous (n = 88) and some primiparous (n = 17) cows that calved in 20 commercial milk recorded herds were investigated. The cows lost weight and a condition score decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during early lactation. Blood samples were taken at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. Ketone body concentrations were highest at 4 weeks after calving. Albumin and total protein concentrations and ornithine carbamyltransferase activity in the blood increased significantly (p = < 0.05) from 1 to 8 weeks after calving. The percentage of liver fat (v/v) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater at 1 (3.9 ± 0.5 %) than at 8 weeks (1.2 ± 0.3 %) after calving. Eighty-nine of 102 cows had less than or equal to 9 % of fat in the liver (mean 2.3 ± 0.2 %), and 13 cows had more than 9% (mean 14.9 ± 1.2%) at 1 week after calving. Only blood acetoacetate and plasma aspartate aminotransferase differed significantly between the groups. In the fatty liver group the incidence rate of treated cases of ketosis was 30.8 ± 13.3 % and of parturient paresis 23.1 ± 12.2 %. In the non-fatty liver group the rates were 10.1 ± 3.2 % and 7.8 ± 2.9 %, respectively. The differences were not significant.     

不同消化能、粗蛋白质水平饲粮对泌乳前期伊犁马营养物质消化代谢、血液生理生化指标和激素的影响

本试验旨在研究不同消化能和粗蛋白质水平的饲粮对泌乳前期伊犁马营养物质消化代谢和血浆生理生化指标的影响,为进一步探讨泌乳前期伊犁马消化能、粗蛋白质水平的营养需要量提供参考依据。选取分娩后7 d内的伊犁母马25匹,根据体重随机分成5组,每组5个重复。第1泌乳月消化能、粗蛋白质水平分别为101.41 MJ·d^-1、1.38 kg·d^-1(Ⅰ组),112.05 MJ·d^-1、1.50 kg·d^-1(Ⅱ组),122.40 MJ·d^-1、1.63 kg·d^-1(Ⅲ组),133.27 MJ·d^-1、1.75 kg·d^-1(Ⅳ组),143.84 MJ·d^-1、1.87 kg·d^-1(Ⅴ组);第2泌乳月消化能、粗蛋白质水平分别为129.73 MJ·d^-1、1.82 kg·d^-1(Ⅰ组),140.37 MJ·d^-1、1.94 kg·d^-1(Ⅱ组),150.72 MJ·d^-1、2.07 kg·d^-1(Ⅲ组),161.60 MJ·d^-1、2.19 kg·d^-1(Ⅳ组),172.17 MJ·d^-1、2.31 kg·d^-1(Ⅴ组)。试验期为60 d,一个试验周期30 d。每个试验周期末采集粪便和尿液用于测定营养物质消化和代谢;采集血液用于测定氮、脂代谢指标以及生长、代谢相关激素浓度。结果显示:饲喂不同消化能、粗蛋白质水平的饲粮对泌乳前期伊犁马各饲粮组的体重、平均日增重以及干物质、有机物、总能、中性洗涤纤维、粗蛋白质、磷等营养物质的表观消化率和可消化能、可消化氮、磷代谢利用率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。钙表观消化率随着饲粮中消化能、粗蛋白质水平的升高饲粮Ⅴ组比饲粮Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组显著提高14.14%、27.08%和24.13% (P<0.05),饲粮Ⅱ组比饲粮Ⅲ、Ⅳ组显著提高21.91%和19.09% (P<0.05)。饲粮Ⅴ组钙的沉积率比饲粮Ⅰ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ组显著提高33.56%、54.79%和26.46% (P<0.05),饲粮Ⅱ组比饲粮Ⅲ组显著提高36.02% (P<0.05)。钙利用率饲粮Ⅱ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ组分别比饲粮Ⅲ组显著提高23.24%、27.67%和34.16% (P<0.05)。不同消化能、粗蛋白质水平对血浆中谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶、游离脂肪酸、肠型脂肪酸结合蛋白、极低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇、甘油三酯、总蛋白、血浆白蛋白、尿素氮水平以及雌酮、雌二醇、垂体泌乳素、黄体酮等生殖激素以及三碘甲状腺原氨酸、生长激素、胰岛素水平等生长代谢类激素无显著影响(P>0.05),饲粮Ⅱ组甲状腺素水平较饲粮Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ组提高34.83%、26.57%、30.36%、34.39% (P<0.05)。由此可见,第1泌乳月和第2泌乳月,消化能饲喂水平分别为112.05和140.37 MJ·d^-1,粗蛋白质饲喂水平分别为1.50和1.94 kg·d^-1时,能够满足伊犁母马泌乳前期的需要量,有助于提高饲粮钙的消化和代谢和甲状腺素的含量。     

饲用甜菜块根混贮饲喂荷斯坦牛的试验研究

采用75%切碎的饲用甜菜根茎与15%芦苇草粉、8%棉籽壳及2%玉米粉进行混合青贮,并替代荷斯坦奶牛常规日粮中的部分玉米青贮,进行饲喂对比试验。结果表明,饲用甜菜混贮饲料干物质含量为27.8%、粗蛋白含量为2.76%、粗脂肪含量为0.92%、粗纤维含量为11.28%、粗灰分含量为3.23%、钙含量为0.10%和磷含量为0.04%。饲用甜菜混贮饲料等量替代10kg奶牛日粮中的玉米青贮饲喂奶牛,试验组比对照组每头奶牛日平均产奶量降低0.09kg,试验末期对照组和试验组的乳蛋白率分别为3.17%和3.18%,乳脂率分别为3.66%和3.73%,分析结果表明,产奶量及乳品质差异均不显著。可见饲用甜菜块根混贮是一种较好的饲料,可以替代玉米青贮饲喂奶牛,混贮是饲用甜菜块根一种理想的贮藏方法。     

不同品种葡萄渣对苜蓿青贮品质和有氧稳定性的影响

为探究不同品种葡萄渣对紫花苜蓿蛋白水解和有氧稳定性的影响,采用“甘农四号”紫花苜蓿作为青贮原料,分别添加马尔贝克(MC)、美乐(MT)、蛇龙珠(CG)3个品种葡萄渣50、100和150 g·kg^-1调制青贮饲料。试验共设置10个处理组,对苜蓿青贮后发酵品质、蛋白组分、蛋白质降解酶、微生物数量及有氧稳定性进行测定及分析。结果表明:3种葡萄渣在100和150 g·kg^-1的添加量下,均显著降低了青贮pH值(P<0.05);非蛋白氮含量随葡萄渣添加量增加而下降,以马尔贝克150 g·kg^-1最低,为430.25 g·kg^-1;添加葡萄渣降低了青贮中氨态氮含量,但添加量的变化对氨态氮含量影响不明显;美乐150 g·kg^-1对青贮羧基肽酶抑制作用最强,酶活性由17.56 μmol·h^-1下降至6.51 μmol·h^-1;葡萄渣增加了青贮发酵后乳酸菌数量,且抑制了霉菌的生长,蛇龙珠150 g·kg^-1乳酸菌数量最高,对照霉菌数量为3.02 log₁₀ cfu·g^-1,显著高于其他处理(P<0.05);3种葡萄渣均减缓了青贮有氧暴露阶段霉变腐败速度,其中美乐150 g·kg^-1处理组有氧腐败所用时间最长。综上所述,不同品种葡萄渣均能改善苜蓿青贮发酵品质,抑制蛋白酶活性,减少青贮蛋白水解程度,并提高了苜蓿青贮有氧稳定性。     

Bovine virus diarrhoea virus: detection of Danish dairy herds with persistently infected animals by means of a screening test of ten young stock

In each of 42 Danish dairy herds, ten young stock aged 8–18 months were tested for antibodies against bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV). At the same time a bulk milk sample from each herd was examined for antibodies against BVDV.

The herds could be divided into two distinct groups: (1) Group A (24 herds) had three or less antibody carriers among the ten young stock sampled from each herd and were considered ‘slightly infected’; (2) Group B (18 herds) had eight or more antibody carriers in the ‘spot’ sample and were therefore considered ‘heavily infected’. Persistently infected animals were not found in two Group A herds studied by a subsequent total herd blood test but were detected in five Group B herds in which all animals in the herds were subsequently tested.

Bulk milk titers were generally higher in Group B than in Group A herds. However, there was considerable variation, and in most cases it was not possible to distinguish the two herd categories from one another by means of bulk milk titers.     

Herd reproductive performance related to urea concentration in bulk milk

Bulk milk samples were collected from 256 dairy herds from 4 districts in Southern Norway: Gudbrandsdal (n = 35), Bergen (n = 15), Hedmark (n = 117) and Hardanger (n = 89).A total of 6–8 samples were collected in each herd during the indoor season. Data concerning reproductive performance, milk production and nutrition were registered for a period of 15 months starting 7 months before the first milk sample was collected. The urea levels obtained during the sampling period were averaged generating a mean urea level of each herd. The mean urea levels were related to reproductive performance.The urea levels within districts showed only minor variations during the sampling period. The mean urea level in Hardanger was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the other distrikts. This district also had the lowest fertility. Significant correlations between mean urea level and fertility were observed only in Hedmark. Fertility status (FS), an integrated index, and number of inseminations per animal inseminated were significantly affected by the interaction between mean urea level and district. Herds in Hardanger with cows treated for ovarian cysts had a significantly higher mean urea level (p = 0.02) than herds with non-treated cows.The results appear to support the notion that a negative relationship may exist between bulk milk urea levels and reproductive performance. The great district variations observed indicate, however, that the practical value of such measurements is limited.     

用食物当量评价草地农业的生产力

根据食物当量的概念和模型,通过引入牧草消化率后饲草食物当量计算的能量和蛋白质系数,对原始模型进行了修正。以1 kg苜蓿(标准食部100%,含水量10%,总能14.267 MJ·kg^-1, 蛋白质含量229 g·kg^-1,干物质消化率65.48%)作为标准饲草,计算并比较了天然草地、栽培牧草、青贮饲料与粮食秸秆等草地资源的食物当量,对不同地域、不同空间尺度、不同利用方式的土地资源的生产力进行了统一量纲上的对比。结果表明,我国牧草的饲草食物当量总体在0.2~1.2 FEU·kg^-1,其中豆科牧草的饲草食物当量在0.4~1.2 FEU·kg^-1,其中能量与蛋白兼优、消化率高的银合欢嫩叶为1.2 FEU·kg^-1;禾本科牧草的饲草食物当量在0.2~1.0 FEU·kg^-1,暖季型牧草多年生黑麦草为1.0 FEU·kg^-1;青贮饲草(包括青贮秸秆)的食物当量为0.1~0.7 FEU·kg^-1;秸秆的食物当量约为0.2 FEU·kg^-1。夏季21个主要天然草地类型 (如荒漠草原和高寒草甸)的FEU生产能力为142~2739 FEU·hm^-2,玛曲的高寒草甸及河北草甸草原约在1300 FEU·hm^-2以上。FEU作为一种快速、易于计算和解释的牧草、畜牧饲料和饲料作物的饲料价值的测量管理单位,打破了单纯以谷物为粮食的传统食物观,统一了食物的标准,即将各个地域、农业系统、饲草和家畜种类、饲草加工和利用方式的食物按统一的标准计算,可以对居民的饮食结构和区域农业结构起指导作用,可为推动我国农业供给侧改革提供决策依据。     

A comparison of the direct and residual response of dairy cows to once or twice-daily milking, in late lactation

Two experiments were undertaken to examine the direct and residual responses of late lactation (mean of 232 days calved) autumn calving dairy cows (Experiment 1), and late lactation (mean of 240 days calved) spring calving dairy cows (Experiment 2), to once-daily milking. Experiments 1 and 2 involved 50 and 44 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows respectively. In each of the two experiments, cows were milked either once daily (ODM) or twice daily (TDM), during the late lactation period (mean of 79 and 66 days in Experiments 1 and 2 respectively). Cows in Experiment 1 were managed within a grazing system, and were offered 3.0 kg of concentrate/day, while cows in Experiment 2 were housed, and offered grass silage supplemented with 6.0 kg concentrate/day. Forty-one cows from Experiment 1, and 32 cows from Experiment 2, completed the first eight weeks of the subsequent lactation on a twice-daily milking regime. Food intakes were not measured in Experiment 1, while treatment had no significant effect on dry matter intake in Experiment 2 (P > 0.05). In each of Experiments 1 and 2, total milk output was increased with twice-daily milking (P ≤ 0.05), while milk fat (P ≤ 0.01) and protein (P < 0.001) concentrations increased with once-daily milking. Somatic cell counts were higher with animals milked once daily in Experiment 1 (P < 0.001), while not being significantly affected by milking frequency in Experiment 2 (P > 0.05). Milking frequency had no significant effect on cow live weight or on cow condition score at the point of drying off in either Experiment (P > 0.05). Milking time per cow during morning milking was unaffected by treatment in either experiment, while total daily milking time per cow (morning and evening combined) was significantly longer with the TDM treatment (P < 0.001). In Experiment 1, milk flow rates during the morning milking were higher with animals on the ODM treatment, compared to those on TDM treatment (P < 0.001), while being unaffected by treatment in Experiment 2 (P > 0.05). Neither daily milk yield, milk fat content, milk protein content, or somatic cell count during the subsequent lactation, were affected by previous lactation milking frequency in either of Experiments 1 or 2 (P > 0.05).     

Indications and implications for testing of milk urea in dairy cattle: A quantitative review. Part 2. Effect of dietary protein on reproductive performance

dDietary protein and dairy cow fertility. Feeding more dietary protein has been negatively associated with dairy cow fertility in some but not all studies. We used meta-analysis to examine the relationship between dietary crude protein and conception rate. While a higher intake of dietary crude protein significantly lowered conception rate, the potential for feeding less degradable dietary protein to modify this relationship was not demonstrated.

dMilk urea concentrations and dairy cow fertility. The use of milk urea as an indicator of dietary energy and protein intake and as an indictor of reproductive performance has been questioned. We found that changes in urea concentration in body fluids explained only 25% (p = 0.08) of the variance in conception rate after conducting a meta-analysis of available studies.

dInterpretation of milk urea concentrations. High intakes of dietary protein may induce adaptations in urea metabolism, and the negative relationship identified between high intakes of dietary protein and fertility for Northern Hemisphere dairy herds may not necessarily apply in Australasian dairy herds. Because of the potential for cows to adapt to high protein diets, the use of a single milk urea determination on a herd will have limited value as an indicator of nutritional status and little value as a predictor of fertility.