Abstract

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and Milk protein (MP) are being used as indicators of the protein-energy balance and for actual farm feeding practices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the MUN and MP concentrations of individual cows and bulk tank milk to evaluate the dietary protein-energy balance from lactating Holstein cows. Mean MUN and MP concentrations in the milk samples obtained from 132,636 cows of 4,856 herd during Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2001 were 16.2 5.2mg/dl and 3.30 0.35%, respectively. The highest values were found during summer and lowest valued during winter in MUN. But, the average contents of MP were the highest during winter and the lowest during summer. In order to evaluate protein-energy balance for feeding, we set the level of recommended MP range of 2.903.29% in early lactation considering a negative energy balance. The recommended level of MP in mid-lactation and late lactation were set as 3.103.49%, and 3.303.69%, respectively. Recommended MUN range of 1218 mg/dl was determined through the whole lactation period. Individual cows milk were analyzed by the 9 types based on this levels of MP and MUN in this study. Among the total cows investigated, 26.8%, 25.8%, and 22.2% have shown the recommended criteria of MP and MUN values, respectively. Also, of total herds surveyed, 11.6% had MUN values lower than 12.0 mg/dl and 32.9% had values higher than 18.0 mg/dl and 44.5% of total herd have not met with the recommended criteria of MP values in bulk tank milk. In case of MP, out of the total herd surveyed, 26.0% had MP values lower than 3.10% and 24.0% had values higher than 3.30% and 50.0% had MP values outside the recommended interval (3.13.3%). This study has indicates that many dairy farms are under improper feeding management practice of the dietary protein-energy balance.

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