Estimating purine derivatives and nitrogen compound excretion using total urine collection or spot urine samples in grazing heifers

The study aimed to evaluate the excretion of purine derivatives (PDs) and nitrogen compounds (NCs) and their ratios with creatinine in supplemented Zebu heifers kept on pastures by comparing total urine collection and spot sampling. Five Nelore heifers (400 ± 15 kg) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The treatments were the amount of concentrate (220 g of crude protein/kg dry matter) offered (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg BW). In each period, the total urine collection was performed continuously for 3 days (subsampled at intervals of 4 h, 00:00–04:00 h, 04:00–08:00 h, 08:00–12:00 h, 12:00–16:00 h, 16:00–20:00 h and 20:00–24:00 h). The spot urine samplings were performed (in each period) for 24 h (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 h). Creatinine, total urinary nitrogen (UN), urea nitrogen (UreaN), allantoin and uric acid were analysed. Creatinine excretion was 23.01 ± 0.19 mg/kg BW and was not affected by collection day, treatment or their interactions (p > 0.05). Treatments affected (p < 0.05) PD excretions, however did not affect the ratio PD:creatinine (p > 0.05). Treatments and collection time affected (p < 0.05) NC excretion, whereas the UN:creatinine and UreaN:creatinine ratios were not affected (p > 0.05). Creatinine excretion and the PD:creatinine ratios in the urine samples estimated by the total or spot sampling were not different (p > 0.05). However, sampling method affected (p < 0.05) the UN:creatinine and UreaN:creatinine (p < 0.05) ratios. Creatinine can adequately estimate urinary excretion in grazing heifers, and a single spot urine sample at any time of the day can be used to estimate PD excretion in grazing heifers. But two spot urine samples are needed for proper NC excretion estimations in grazing heifers’ urine.