Evaluation of nutritional status of dairy cows based on milk analysis results

Abstract

Milk composition data, milk fat percentage (g/100ml), milk protein percentage (g/100g) and milk urea content (mg urea/dl) of 50,000 individual milk samples of cows under milk recording were used to evaluate nutritional status of dairy cows on Croatian farms. Analysis of average values of milk components indicates that most of the animals (60%) had a ration well balanced in energy and fibre, but ration protein deficiency could be a major characteristic of nutrition of considerable number (61.5%) of cows. Using milk analysis results it is possible to estimate major problems in dairy cow nutrition, predict and prevent possible metabolic and reproductive disturbances.

Keywords::

• Nutritional status
• Milk fat
• Milk protein
• Milk urea