Urophagia in lactating cows associated with nitrogen deficiency in the diet - case reports

Malafaia, P.; Mendes, A.

doi:10.1590/1678-4162-13450

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Case Report - Veterinary Medicine • Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 77 (04) • Jul-Aug 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-13450 linkcopy

Urophagia in lactating cows associated with nitrogen deficiency in the diet - case reports

[Urofagia em vacas lactantes associada à deficiência de nitrogênio na dieta - relato de casos]

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

This article describes two cases where adult dairy or beef cows, fed exclusively with corn or sorghum silage, began to ingest urine greedily. Providing 20 to 40g of urea/100kg of body weight was able to suppress urophagia in these two herds. In a situation where adult cows, not supplemented with protein concentrates, are ingesting urine, professionals should suspect a nitrogen deficiency in the diet. The diagnosis can be confirmed if urophagia stops after 15 to 21 days of supplying 20 to 40g of urea/100kg of body weight. Differential diagnoses of Na and Co deficiencies should be considered in episodes of urophagia.

Keywords:
corn and sorghum silage; nitrogen; urophagia

Herd of Jersey cows
Average weight of cows (kg)	440
Average milk production (kg/day)	8.0
Milk protein (%)	3.35
Milk fat (%)	3.60
Estimated weight loss (kg/day)	- 0.10
Required DM intake (kg/day)	9.2
Urea-free diet
Sorghum silage (32% DM and 7.1% CP) offered (kg/day)	25
DM intake from sorghum silage	8,0
DM to be obtained by forage intake (kg/d)	1.2
% Crude protein (CP) in forage (%DM)	5.1
Estimated CP intake (g/day)	628
CP ingested converted to metabolizable protein (63% of CP), in g/day	394
Metabolizable protein required for maintenance (g/day)	365
Metabolizable protein required for lactation (g/day)	358
Total metabolizable protein required, assuming daily weight loss (g/day)	710
Metabolizable protein deficit (g/day)	- 316
Diet enriched with 200 g of urea/day (≡ 0.8% of silage supply)
CP consumption from urea (g/day)	560
Crude protein of microbial origin from urea (80% of CP)	448
Metabolizable protein from microbial crude protein (63%)	283
Metabolizable protein deficit (g/day)	- 33

Herd of Nellore cows
Average weight of cows (kg)	480
Average milk production (kg/day)	3
Milk protein (%)	3.30
Milk fat (%)	3.60
Estimated weight loss (kg/day)	- 0.10
Required DM intake (kg/day)	9.0
Urea-free diet
Corn silage (32% DM and 6.5% CP) offered (kg/day)	27
DM intake from sorghum silage	8.6
DM to be obtained by forage intake (kg/d)	0.40
% CP in forage (%DM)	5.0
Estimated CP intake (g/day)	633
CP ingested converted to metabolizable protein (63% of CP), in g/day	397
Metabolizable protein required for maintenance (g/day)	390
Metabolizable protein required for lactation (g/day)	134
Total metabolizable protein required, assuming daily weight loss (g/day)	510
Metabolizable protein deficit (g/day)	- 113
Diet enriched with 100 g of urea/day (≡ 0.8% of silage supply)
CP intake from urea (g/day)	280
Crude protein of microbial origin from urea (80% of CP)	224
Metabolizable protein from microbial crude protein (63%)	141
Metabolizable protein deficit (g/day)	28

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Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Veterinária Caixa Postal 567, 30123-970 Belo Horizonte MG - Brazil, Tel.: (55 31) 3409-2041, Tel.: (55 31) 3409-2042 - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brazil
E-mail: abmvz.artigo@gmail.com

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