The objectives of this study were to identify and evaluate production and environmental factors that influence milk urea (MU) in Israeli dairy herds, to analyze the relationships between MU concentration and nutritional variables, and to examine a possible association between MU and pregnancy rate (PR). Production and environmental data were obtained from the Israeli Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) Center (n = 1,279,600). Programmed total mixed rations (feeds and quantities) on milk-test day were collected from 42 dairy herds. Data on 36,073 cows that were inseminated close to milk-test day and pregnancy diagnosis results were obtained from the DHI data bank. Highly significant positive relationships were found between MU concentration and milk yield and fat percentage; relationships between MU and milk total protein percentage and somatic cell count were negative. Milk urea levels were higher during the summer months and were higher for adult cows. These levels increased as lactation progressed. Milk urea was positively associated with dietary levels of crude protein, ruminal digestible protein, and neutral detergent fiber contents; it was negatively associated with ration energy and nonstructural carbohydrate contents. Significant influences of specific feeds on MU were detected. A significant negative association was found between MU level and PR. Least squares means for PR for cows in the lowest and highest MU quartiles were 38.4 and 36.1%, respectively. Increasing levels of MU were negatively related to reproductive performance of dairy cows, but the risk of nonpregnancy caused by high levels of MU was lower than reported in previous studies.

A trial was conducted in a commercial dairy herd in which the concentrate part of the ration was fed individually to a group of cows through computerized self-feeders. Performance results were compared with those of a group fed TMR of 65 to 67% concentrates. Rationing of individual concentrates was according to parity, milk yield, milk yield potential, BW changes, and bunk feed-stuffs. Mean intake of concentrates per cow was about 1 kg/d lower in the individually supplemented cows. This was partly compensated for by a higher intake of bunk feedstuffs. Overall daily milk yield per cow was similar to those receiving a TMR in first parity cows, higher in second parity cows, and lower in third and greater parity cows. The higher performance of the second parity cows was achieved in all milk yield potential classes, and the lower yield in subsequent lactations was due to lower performance in low and high potential classes. The individually supplemented cows gained less BW than those in the TMR group. Milk yield per unit of BW was better than milk yield as a variable to refine individual cow supplementation strategy for allocation of concentrates. Results also suggest that the same criteria used for supplementation of concentrates can be beneficial to cows' assignments and movements among different TMR groups. Computerized dispensing of concentrates, when applied properly, can economize on consumption of concentrates when grouping and feeding different TMR are impossible.

A trial was conducted from freshening to 30 wk postpartum to evaluate assignment of cows into production potential groups based on early lactation performance to optimize the time for switching from high to medium nutrient concentration TMR. Cows received a TMR formulated for early lactation until wk 4 of lactation and a high nutrient concentration TMR until 13, 19, or 25; the high TMR was followed by a medium nutrient concentration TMR until the end of the trial. Cows were assigned to high, medium, or low potential groups separately for parities 1, 2, and > or = 3 based on daily 3.5% FCM production as a percentage of BW measured during wk 6 and 7 of lactation. Low potential cows tended to partition energy intake into BW gain earlier in lactation than medium and high potential cows. For low potential cows, an early transfer to medium TMR moderated BW gain with no negative effect on production. High potential cows maintained their BW on the high ration; however, early transfer negatively affected production. Classification of individual cows into potential groups based on early lactation performance can serve as a useful tool for TMR feeding strategy later in lactation.

A trial was conducted in a dairy of a cooperating kibbutz to investigate the cow's response to individual concentrate supplementation according to daily milk production when a feed mixture containing a 50:50 concentrate:forage offered in the bunk free choice. Concentrate supplementation was provided by computerized self-feeders for cows producing over 30 kg milk/d to a maximum of 10 kg/d concentrate (as fed) according to milk production. The results were compared with those cows fed, for ad libitum intake, a total ration of 73:27 concentrate: forage (high control) and 50:50 (low control). The performance variables of individually supplemented cows (milk yield, 4% FCM yield, and BW) were analyzed according to parity and milk yield potential. The results indicated that milk yield itself could not serve as the only variable for individual concentrate supplementation as applied in this experiment. Cows in different parities and with different milk yield potentials may respond differently to the concentrate supplementation strategy, and parity numbers, milk yield potential, and BW, in addition to daily milk yield, are possible variables to be considered when applying this feeding regimen in order to exploit its economic potential efficiently.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of roasting nonlinted whole cottonseed on ruminal crude protein (CP) degradability and performance in high-yielding dairy cows. Multiparous Israeli Holstein-Friesian cows (parity average 2.5+/-1.5; n = 132) with 571+/-65 kg of body weight (BW), 107+/-48 d in milk (DIM), and 37+/-5.8 kg of milk yield/d were used in the study. Cows were divided into two dietary treatment groups according to their BW, DIM, and milk production. The two diets were similar in CP, net energy for lactation, and neutral detergent fiber content [17%, 1.74 Mcal/kg, and 30% on a dry matter (DM) basis] and included either 15% (on a DM basis) whole cottonseed or roasted whole cottonseed. Ruminal effective degradability of CP, organic matter (OM), and ether extract (EE) decreased 14, 11, and 10%, respectively, compared to whole cottonseed. Total tract digestibilities of CP and EE were similar for both treatments and averaged 57 and 59%, respectively. However, DM and OM digestibilities were 6 and 5% higher in cows offered roasted whole cottonseed relative to those fed whole cottonseed diet. The inclusion of roasted whole cottonseed in the ration decreased ruminal ammonia and blood urea N concentration by 12% compared with diet with the raw whole cottonseed. Milk production, milk fat content, and production, and milk protein yield increased when roasted, nonlinted whole cottonseed was included in the diet. Milk protein content was similar for both treatments, averaging 2.92%.