The NPN content of milk represents only 5 to 6% of the total N in milk. However, the significance of this milk N fraction to energy and N metabolism in the dairy cow has not been well characterized. The single largest contributor to the NPN fraction of milk NPN is urea. Urea equilibrates in body water, and blood urea is the primary source of milk urea. The urea in milk can be derived from at least two sources: the end product of digestion and amino acid catabolism. Blood urea N was positively associated with intakes of ruminally degradable and undegradable protein and negatively associated with intake of net energy. Consequently, it might be possible to develop a system to evaluate the dietary protein and energy status of the lactating dairy cow employing milk urea in conjunction with milk true protein.
