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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 55 No. 9 1290-1294
© 1972 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Effect of Feeding Urea on Reproductive Efficiency in Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Association Herds1

W. L. Ryder2, D. Hillman and J. T. Huber

Dairy Science Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823

ABSTRACT

Information on feeding practices in Michigan Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) herds to determine if feeding urea affected reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle was obtained through a survey form distributed by county extension personnel. Calving interval (days) was from DHIA records. Adjusted calving interval (ACI) was calculated by subtracting from the calving interval the number of days the dairy man waited from calving to first breeding as a herd policy. Percent of cows sold for sterility was also from DHIA records. A total of 3,157 herd-year observations representing 85,281 calving intervals was from the 5 years 1965 to 1969. Of the 3,157 herd-year observations, 1,709 were in herds fed urea. In herds which used urea, daily urea intake averaged 80.6 g (range 9 to 370 g). Approximately 50% of this came from urea-treated corn silage and the remainder from concentrate. The mean ACI for herds fed no urea was 314.4 days compared to 315.7 days for herds fed urea. The ACI for herds fed 1 to 60 g urea was 313.4; 61 to 120 g, 317.8; 121 to 180 g, 316.5; and over 181 g, 313.7 days. These differences were not significant. Cows sold for sterility in nonurea herds was 2.15% versus 2.40% for all urea. This small difference is of no practical significance.

FOOTNOTES

1 Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article 5579. This study was partially supported by funds provided by Agway Inc., Syracuse, New York.

2 Present address: Iowa State University, Cooperative Extension Service, Dubuque, Iowa.






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Copyright © 1972 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.