Preliminary Results of an Observational Study describing the Relationship between Milk Urea Nitrogen and Pasture Management in Prince Edward Island Dairy Herds

Authors

  • Emery Leger Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3
  • Pipat Arunvipas Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3
  • Ian Dohoo Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3
  • Greg Keefe Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3
  • John VanLeeuwen Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3
  • Jeff Wichtel Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PEI CIA 4P3

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20005419

Keywords:

milk urea nitrogen, energy content, dry matter, pasture management, protein percentage, precipitation

Abstract

The initial phase of a long term milk urea nitrogen (MUN) project consisted of a six month (May - Oct 99) observational study 75 dairy herds in Prince Edward Island, a temperate-climate, maritime province on the east coast of Canada.

Several studies have shown that MUN levels increase when cows are put on pasture (1, 2, 5 ). Ubertalle (4) found that MUN levels were related to grass quality and composition. Lean (5) reported that as pasture develops, the energy content and protein percentage of the dry matter (DM) decreases. Intensive pasture management reduces back grazing and promotes pasture regrowth (5), allowing the energy content and protein percentage of the dry matter (DM) to persist longerthan with low-intensity pasture management. This study describes the relationship between pasture management, precipitation, and observed MUN levels in dairy herds.

Cover image of the 33rd Conference Proceedings: Cattle and calves standing in a field of wildflowers, gazing curiously at the photographer. Yellow background.

Downloads

Published

2000-09-21

Issue

2000

Section

Research Summaries 4

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>