Urinary Volume and Magnesium Comparisons
Breakthrough in Dairy Urinalysis Research Will Improve Animal Health and Production
A new study has implications to improve dairy cow health and milk production by predicting urine volume in non-pregnant, non-lactating Holstein cows. Urinary Volume of Non-Lactating Cows: Observations vs. Estimates also will allow smaller sample sizes in research on non-lactating cows, resulting in faster results at a lower cost. GLC Minerals is proud to have partnered with University of California, Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare, California, on this breakthrough study.
Benefits of Dairy Urinalysis for Research
Urinalysis has always been one of the most useful diagnostic tools to monitor animal health. It is quick, cost effective and easily accessible. The new study compounds those benefits because it determined the same formula established to predict urine volumes in lactating cows can be used for other cows.
Previously in lactating cows, creatinine and body weight (BW) had been used as predictors of urine volume based on the following equation: Urine volume = [29×BW (kg)]/[urinary creatinine (mg/L)]. The new study determined the same formula can determine urine volume in non-lactating cows.
Urinalysis Proves Multesium™ Maximizes Solubility
In the first of many studies to benefit from this finding, the formula was used to research availability of five magnesium (Mg) sources in non-lactating cows, including four commonly used inorganic Mg sources and Multesium, the proprietary calcium magnesium carbonate blend from GLC Minerals. The four common inorganic sources included magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), calcium magnesium hydroxide [CaMg(OH)4], and calcium magnesium carbonate [CaMg(CO3)2].
Based on urinary Mg excretion 24 hours after treatment, Multesium had a similar relative availability to three commonly used inorganic Mg sources, and it was superior to the calcium magnesium carbonate used in the study. Multesium proves to be more soluble, resulting in better absorption—meaning reduced feed rates and a lower cost per head.
This magnesium comparison study, Comparative Availability of Five Magnesium Sources in Non-Pregnant Non-Lactating Holstein Cows, was another collaboration between GLC Minerals and UC Davis, along with several other organizations, including Dairy Experts Inc in Tulare, Iowa State University, The Ohio State University and Michigan State University.
The study included just 12 cows. It previously would have required at least xx cows to be statistically relevant. However, by using the formula verified in Urinary Volume of Non-Lactating Cows: Observations vs. Estimates, it was able to confirm the greater absorption of Multesium at a fraction of time and cost.
Contact our animal nutrition specialists to learn more about either study or how on-demand custom blending of Multesium can help reduce your costs and ensure consistent tailored nutrition for a healthier, more productive dairy herd.