Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T01:25:40.522Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Efficiency of utilization of volatile fatty acids for maintenance and energy retention by sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2008

E. R. ØRskov
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
D. A. Grubb
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
J. S. Smith
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
A. J. F. Webster
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
W. Corrigall
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Two experiments were conducted with lambs sustained entirely by intragastric infusion of volatile fatty acids (VFA), protein, minerals and vitamins.

2. In the first experiment to determine the effects of VFA on nitrogen retention four mixtures of VFA (B, C, D and E) were used containing acetic, propionic and butyric acid in the following molar proportions respectively: 45,45 and 10; 55,35 and 10; 65,25 and 10; 75, 15 and 10.The level of infusion was 836 kJ/live weight0.75 per d and the design was a 4 × 4 Latin square with 14 d periods. There were no significant differences in the N balance between the different mixtures of VFA though mixture B tended to give the highest N retention.

3. Thirty-two lambs were used in the second experiment for measurements of heat production in closed- circuit respiration chambers. Six mixtures of VFA were used. These included mixtures B-E from Expt I and in addition two mixtures (A and F) containing acetic, propionic and butyric acid in the following molar proportions respectively: 35, 55 and 10; 85, 5 and 10. The heat production was measured both at 450 and 900 kJ/W0.75 per d, except for mixture F, where it was not possible to achieve a rate of infusion in excess of 675 kJ/W0.75 per d.

4. The energy required for maintenance was determined to be 0.45±0.02 MJ/kg live weight0.75 per d regardless of the mixture used.

5. The efficiency of utilization for fattening (kf) values for the six mixtures were 0.78, 0.64, 057, 0.61, 0.61 and 0.59 for mixtures A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Only mixture A was significantly better utilized than the other mixtures. This mixture also gave the most efficient N utilization.

6. It is concluded from this evidence that differences in k, for diets normally given to ruminants cannot be attributed to differences in utilization of volatile fatty acids.

Type
Papers on General Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1979

References

Agricultural Research Council (1965). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock, no. 2, Ruminants. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Annison, E. F. & Armstrong, D. G. (1970). In Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant, p. 422 [Phillipson, A. T., editor]. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D. G. & Blaxter, K. L. (1957 a). Br. J. Nutr. 11, 247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armstrong, D. G. & Blaxter, K. L. (1957 b). Br. J. Nutr. 11, 413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armstrong, D.G., Blaxter, K. L. & Graham, N. McC. (1957). Br. J. Nutr. 11, 392.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Armstrong, D. G., Blaxter, K. L., Wainman, F. W. & Graham, N. McC. (1958). Br. J. Nutr. 12, 177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barcroft, J., McAnnally, R. A. & Phillipson, A. T. (1944). J. exp. Biol. 20, 120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K.L. (1962). Energy Metabolism in Ruminants. London: Hutchinson & CO. Ltd.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. & Boyne, A. W. (1978). J. agric. Sci., Camb. 90, 47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bull, L. S., Reid, J. T. & Johnson, D. E. (1970). J. Nutr. 100, 262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daccord, R. (1971). Effect of supplement of hay and concentrate on energy metabolism in sheep. Thesis Ecole Polytechnique Federale, Zurich, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Holter, J. B., Heald, C. W. & Colovos, N. F. (1970). J. Dairy Sci. 53, 1241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hovell, F. D. (1972). The utilization of salts of volatile fatty acids by growing lambs. PhD Thesis, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Hovell, F. D. & Greenhalgh, J. F. D. (1978). Br. J. Nutr. 40. 171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hovell, F. D., Greenhalgh, J. F. D. & Wainman, F. W. (1976). Br. J. Nutr. 35, 343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, P. R. & Thomas, P. C. (1973). Anim. Prod. 17, 209.Google Scholar
Munro, H. N. (1964). In Mammalian Protein Metabolism, vol. 1, p. 381 [Munro, H. N. and Allison, J. B., editors]. London: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. (1965). The utilization of volatile fatty acids by growing lambs. PhD Thesis, University of Reading.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. (1975). Wld Rev. Nutr. Diet, 22, 152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. (1977). Wld Rev. Nutr. Diet, 26, 225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. & Allen, D. M. (1966). Br. J. Nutr. 20, 519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Flatt, W. P., Moe, P. V., Munson, A. W., Hempken, R. W. & Katz, I. (1968). Br. J. Nutr. 23, 443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. & Grubb, D. A. (1977). Proc. Nutr. Soc. 36, 128A.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Grubb, D. A., Webster, A. J. F. & Smith, J. S. (1978). Proc. Nutr. Soc. 37, 51A.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Grubb, D. A., Wenham, G. & Corrigal, W. (1979). Br. J. Nutr. 41, 553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. & McDonald, I. (1970). In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals [Schurch, A. and Wenk, C., editors]. Zurich: Juris Druck Verlag.Google Scholar
Tyrrell, H. F., Reynolds, P. J. & Moe, P. W. (1975). J. Anim. Sci. 41, 423.Google Scholar
Wainman, F. W. & Blaxter, K. L. (1969). In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals [Blaxter, K. L., Kielanowski, J. and G.Thorbek, editors]. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press Ltd.Google Scholar
Walker, D. M. & Jagusch, K. T. (1970). In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals [Schurch, A. and Wenk, C., editors]. Zurich: Juris Druck Verlag.Google Scholar
Webster, A. J. F. (1978). Wld Rev. Nutr. Diet. (In the Press.)Google Scholar