Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows
The effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a slow-release urea source (SRU) on production performance, feed efficiency, digestibility, and environmental sustainability of dairy cows were evaluated. A total of 140 lactating Holstein Frisian cows were allocated into two study groups: (...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2405 |
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| author | Silvia Grossi Riccardo Compiani Luciana Rossi Matteo Dell’Anno Israel Castillo Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi |
| author_facet | Silvia Grossi Riccardo Compiani Luciana Rossi Matteo Dell’Anno Israel Castillo Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi |
| author_sort | Silvia Grossi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a slow-release urea source (SRU) on production performance, feed efficiency, digestibility, and environmental sustainability of dairy cows were evaluated. A total of 140 lactating Holstein Frisian cows were allocated into two study groups: (i) control (diet entirely based on SBM), and (ii) treatment (diet of 0.22% on dry matter basis (d.m.)) of SRU. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), body condition score (BCS), reproductive parameters, and milk quality were evaluated. The chemical composition of the feeds and feces were analyzed to calculate the in vivo digestibility of the two diets. The carbon footprint (CFP) and predicted methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions were evaluated. The inclusion of SRU significantly increases milk yield, DMI, and FCR (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), whereas milk quality, BCS, and reproductive indicators were not affected (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In the treatment group, the digestibility of crude protein (CP) (<i>p</i> = 0.012), NDF (<i>p</i> = 0.039), and cellulose (<i>p</i> = 0.033) was significantly higher, while the other nutritional parameters weren’t affected. All the environmental parameters were significantly improved in the treatment group (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Replacing SBM with SRU can be a strategy to enhance dairy cows’ sustainability due to improved production efficiency, reduced feed CFP, and predicted CH<sub>4</sub> production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b96b3b54c94543bf9de00719401e478f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b96b3b54c94543bf9de00719401e478f2023-11-22T06:31:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-08-01118240510.3390/ani11082405Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy CowsSilvia Grossi0Riccardo Compiani1Luciana Rossi2Matteo Dell’Anno3Israel Castillo4Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi5Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni” (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, ItalyAnimal Science and Food Safety, University of Milan, 7, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni” (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni” (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, ItalyPhytotherapic Solutions, S.L.-Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni” (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, ItalyThe effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a slow-release urea source (SRU) on production performance, feed efficiency, digestibility, and environmental sustainability of dairy cows were evaluated. A total of 140 lactating Holstein Frisian cows were allocated into two study groups: (i) control (diet entirely based on SBM), and (ii) treatment (diet of 0.22% on dry matter basis (d.m.)) of SRU. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), body condition score (BCS), reproductive parameters, and milk quality were evaluated. The chemical composition of the feeds and feces were analyzed to calculate the in vivo digestibility of the two diets. The carbon footprint (CFP) and predicted methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions were evaluated. The inclusion of SRU significantly increases milk yield, DMI, and FCR (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), whereas milk quality, BCS, and reproductive indicators were not affected (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In the treatment group, the digestibility of crude protein (CP) (<i>p</i> = 0.012), NDF (<i>p</i> = 0.039), and cellulose (<i>p</i> = 0.033) was significantly higher, while the other nutritional parameters weren’t affected. All the environmental parameters were significantly improved in the treatment group (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Replacing SBM with SRU can be a strategy to enhance dairy cows’ sustainability due to improved production efficiency, reduced feed CFP, and predicted CH<sub>4</sub> production.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2405dairyslow-release ureaefficiencyfeed digestibilitysustainabilitycarbon footprint |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Grossi Riccardo Compiani Luciana Rossi Matteo Dell’Anno Israel Castillo Carlo Angelo Sgoifo Rossi Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows Animals dairy slow-release urea efficiency feed digestibility sustainability carbon footprint |
| title | Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows |
| title_full | Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows |
| title_short | Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows |
| title_sort | effect of slow release urea administration on production performance health status diet digestibility and environmental sustainability in lactating dairy cows |
| topic | dairy slow-release urea efficiency feed digestibility sustainability carbon footprint |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2405 |
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