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Further studies on the utilization of nitrogen in silage based diets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. W. Griffiths  and
F. H. Smith
T. W. Griffiths
Affiliation:
The Agricultural Institute, Dunsinea, Castleknock, Co. Dublin
F. H. Smith
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College, Dublin
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Summary

Two digestibility and balance experiments were carried out using 12 growing heifers to compare first and second cut silages fed alone or with supplementary barley or barley and urea, and to measure the effects of the addition of urea to silage and barley diets at three levels of dietary energy.

Digestibility of gross energy (GE), N and modified acid detergent fibre (MADF) was higher in first cut than second cut silage diets, and although D.M. intake was slightly lower, metabolizable energy (ME) intake was significantly higher. Inclusion of urea increased the apparent digestibility of N but had no effect on the intake of D.M. or ME. Nitrogen retention was significantly higher on first cut than second cut silage diets and was significantly increased by the addition of urea when N intake was low. The relationship between daily N retention (DRN), ME intake (DME) and digestible N intake (DAN) was represented by an equation of the form:

DRN = C–2·164DME+0·447DAN–0·00512DAN2+0·0487DMExDAN,

but when apparent biological value (ABV) of dietary protein was high DRN was linearly related to DAN. These equations were used to estimate requirements for digestible N. The results of rumen fermentation studies suggested that the response in DRN to urea inclusion could be partially explained by the low rumen ammonia values on silage and barley diets.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 83 , Issue 3 , December 1974 , pp. 531 - 537
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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