Associations of Lameness with Indicators of Nitrogen Metabolism and Excretion in Dairy Cows

Daniel-Catalin Necula (), Helen Elizabeth Warren, Jules Taylor-Pickard, Eliza Simiz and Lavinia Stef ()
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Daniel-Catalin Necula: Alltech Bioscience Centre, A86 X006 Dunboyne, Ireland
Helen Elizabeth Warren: Alltech Bioscience Centre, A86 X006 Dunboyne, Ireland
Jules Taylor-Pickard: Alltech Bioscience Centre, A86 X006 Dunboyne, Ireland
Eliza Simiz: Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Michael I from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Lavinia Stef: Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Michael I from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of lameness on nitrogen (N) metabolism and excretion. Two treatment groups of 20 multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were included in study; the control group consisted of cows with locomotion score ≤2, while the experimental group consisted of cows with locomotion scores 3 and 4. Fodder, milk, feces, and urine were collected to determine nitrogen emissions. The milk yield, the energy-corrected milk, the fat and protein yield were higher for lame animals compare with non-lame cows. Differences were also detected in the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) between groups where lame cows had a 15% lower MUN than non-lame animals. Urine volume was lower ( p < 0.008), while urinary creatinine concentration was higher ( p < 0.05) in lame animals compare with those in the non-lame group. Consequently, the creatinine/urea ratio was significantly higher ( p < 0.001) in the lame vs. no-lame animals. Nitrogen excretion in milk was higher ( p = 0.008) and N in urine was lower ( p < 0.001) in the lame compared to non-lame cows with lower urinary N emissions in lame animals. Taken together, our results show that urinary creatinine concentration and urinary creatinine/urea ratio have the potential to be used as a tool for lameness detection.

Keywords: lameness; nitrogen; dairy cows; excretion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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