The objective of this study was to assess variability in urine macro-mineral concentrations as a tool to detect the risk of metabolic diseases in dairy cattle related to mineral imbalance. The data set used in the analysis included data from 200 dairy farms from northern Italy with average milk yield of 35 ± 2.5 L/d. Urine samples from 2,700 cows were analyzed for pH, anions (Cl, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate), and cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, ammonium). Cows were categorized into 3 distinct groups: (1) a close-up group (−30 to −5 d before calving; n = 970), (2) a start-up group (from +3 to + 30 DIM; n = 898), and (3) a lactating group (from 70 to 120 DIM; n = 510). Data for milk production, metabolic diseases after calving, and the use of anionic salts in close up rations were collected at each farm. Urine samples were analyzed using an ionic chromatography system and adjusted using a refractometer system. Concentrations of major relevant cations and anions in the close-up group for farms that fed an anionic diet were (mmol/L, mean ± SE): Na, 64.1 ± 10.3; K, 266 ± 13.8; Mg, 23.6 ± 1.19, Ca, 6.9 ± 0.70; Cl, 118 ± 10.1; sulfate, 20.1 ± 1.68; phosphate, 0.57 ± 0.09, and pH = 8.16 ± 0.45 and for farms that did not feed anionic diets were: 58.9 ± 5.37, 274 ± 8.2, 17.7 ± 0.96, 1.97 ± 0.26, 70.0 ± 5.7, 14.2 ± 1.23, 1.10 ± 0.31, and 8.06 ± 0.11, respectively. Urine concentrations of Mg, Ca, Cl, and sulfate were higher (P ≤ 0.04) for the anionic vs. non-anionic diets. Concentrations of these ions and pH in the start-up group were 107 ± 2.9, 231 ± 2.8, 20.1 ± 0.35, 2.8 ± 0.13, 67.8 ± 2.32, 13.4 ± 0.55, 1.18 ± 0.13, and 8.09 ± 0.01, respectively and in the lactation group: 108 ± 3.5, 248 ± 3.6, 23.7 ± 0.52, 2.8 ± 0.30, 82.6 ± 2.80, 16.8 ± 0.88, 0.90 ± 0.19, and 8.21 ± 0.01, respectively. Pearson correlations between urine analyses and incidences of metabolic diseases (r = −0.04 for phosphate to −0.22 for Ca) and milk production (r = −0.06 for Ca to 0.25 for Na) were weak. Data from this analysis suggest that feeding anionic diets in the close-up period increased urinary excretion of Mg, Ca, Cl, and sulfate in dairy cows.