Abstract
A number of studies have shown that milk urea levels above about 350 mg/l are associated with reduced fertility in dairy cows (Ropstad and Refsdal, 1987; Gustafsson and Carlsson, 1993). A significant and increasing proportion of UK milk producers receive regular information on the urea content of bulk milk as part of routine milk testing. Two studies were undertaken to examine whether the urea content in bulk milk (Study 1) or in milk from individual cows at about the time of service (Study 2) could be used as a management aid to improve fertility status.In Study 1, the milk urea (MU) contents in bulk milk samples from 475 farms in England and Wales were determined by NIRS. Fertility data for each farm was obtained from National Milk Records. Analysis of the data for each month of the study was restricted to those herds in which ≥15 cows were served.
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