Effect of energy supplementation on the milk urea nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen level in cross bred cows in early lactation

Accepted: 21/07/2014 Abstract A study was conducted for 150 days in crossbred cows to assess the effect of high energy diet on production performance in early lactation. Eighteen crossbred cows within 10-15 days of lactation were selected and divided into three groups of six each. They were fed with concentrate mixture containing 65 % of total digestible nutrient and 17 % crude protein with 35 % of crude protein as undegradable protein. The animals in the second and third group were supplemented daily with one and two kg of energy supplement (ground maize) respectively. The average milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentrations of the experimental animals were 14.76, 18.21, and 15.83 mg/dl in the beginning and 16.73, 18.95 and 16.70 mg /dl at the end of the experiment for group I, II and III, respectively. Whereas the final blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations of the animals fed three dietary treatments were 22.14, 21.72 and 22.76 mg/dl, in the groups I, II and III, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the milk urea nitrogen level and blood urea concentrations between the treatments, energy supplemented groups showed numerically higher values compared to control.