Feed Selection
Cows & Buffaloes
Urea Poisoning — The Feed-Store Chemical That Must Never Meet the Trough Directly
Updated 26 Aug 2026 • By Falah Nutrition Desk, Animal Nutrition Advisor
Urea fertiliser sits in many farm stores — and used correctly in sealed straw treatment it's a friend. But raw urea reaching cattle directly, by accident or by careless 'protein shortcut', releases ammonia in the rumen faster than the animal can cope. Poisoning is fast, dramatic and preventable to the letter.
Common Signs
- Trouble within minutes to an hour of exposure
- Heavy salivation, muscle tremors, twitching ears and face
- Restlessness turning to staggering and weakness
- Bloat and laboured breathing as the crisis builds
- Collapse and convulsions in severe cases — speed decides outcomes
Possible Causes
- Animals raiding open fertiliser bags or spilled urea in sheds and fields
- Dry urea sprinkled on feed as an unsafe 'protein' shortcut
- Urea-treated straw fed before its full sealed period, or made with careless mixing (hot spots)
- Urea dissolved in drinking water reaching stock by mistake
- Calves and unaccustomed animals exposed to any urea-containing feed
What the Farmer Should Check
- Where exactly is fertiliser stored — can any animal ever reach it?
- Any spills along paths animals use, or bags carried through the shed?
- Is treated straw fully sealed for its complete period and aired before feeding?
- Was mixing even, or could pockets of concentrated urea exist?
- Are calves fully excluded from urea-treated feed?
Feed Guidance
Prevention is absolute rules, not moderation: fertiliser stored sealed, off-limits and away from all feed paths; spills swept immediately; no dry urea on feed, ever; treated straw made exactly by the sealed-stack method, mixed evenly, aired before feeding, introduced gradually and never given to young calves. Protein shortcuts belong in properly formulated feed, where any urea-type components are professionally blended and safe — that's precisely the difference between a feed factory and a fertiliser bag. If exposure happens: remove all animals from the source, note roughly how much was eaten and when, and call the doctor at once — traditional first-aid drenches are sometimes advised by vets over the phone, but a poisoned animal needs professional treatment, fast.
Relevant GOKA Products
Dairy Cows & Buffaloes
15-22 liters/day
Peak milk with high FAT & SNF
Dairy Cows & Buffaloes
10-15 liters/day
Maintains milk fat, prevents repeat breeding
When to Contact a Veterinary Doctor
Suspected urea exposure with salivation, tremors or bloat is a minutes-matter emergency — call your veterinary doctor immediately and keep animals away from the source.
Get Feed Guidance from Falah Enterprises
Free, personal guidance for your animal - tell us the details on WhatsApp or call us.