Evaluation of Energy Status of Dairy Cows Using Milk Fat, Protein and Urea Concentrations

High yielding dairy cows are at an increased risk for many metabolic diseases, especially during early lactation when milk production increases, but with a lagging of feed intake. Namely, this combination leads to a negative energy balance (NEB). The animal attempts to supply the energy needs for milk production by increased lipolysis of adipose tissue. Nonesterifed fatty acids (NEFA) that are released from the stored triacylglycerol (TAG) in the adipose tissue are readily taken up by the liver where they provide energy for liver function. If more NEFA arrive at the liver, than needed for energy purposes, the excess may be oxidized incompletely and generEVALUATION OF ENERGY STATUS OF DAIRY COWS USING MILK FAT, PROTEIN AND UREA CONCENTRATIONS