Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:56:25.205Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Some factors affecting apparent nitrogen digestibility of roughage diets fed to cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. B. Moran  and
J. E. Vercoe
J. B. Moran
Affiliation:
Division of Animal Genetics, C.S.I.R.O., Cattle Research Laboratory, Rockhampton, Queensland, 4700
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Published and unpublished results for apparent nitrogen digestibility from 107 digestibility trials with Zebu (Africander, Brahman and their crosses with British cattle) and British breeds of cattle were analysed by regression analyses to determine its relationship with dry matter intake and dietary nitrogen content.

The linear regression of apparent nitrogen digestibility on the reciprocal of dietary nitrogen content was an adequate mathematical description of the relation (r = 0·92) and the addition of the reciprocal of nitrogen intake as an independent variable improved the description (r = 0·95) particularly for diets with a low nitrogen content. Both these equations have a physiological basis.

Estimates of the true nitrogen digestibility and metabolic faecal nitrogen from the linear regression of apparent nitrogen digestibility on the reciprocal of dietary nitrogen content were 86·8% and 0·49 g/100 g dry-matter intake. Independent estimates of these parameters from a multiple regression of total faecal nitrogen on dry-matter intake and nitrogen intake were 88·7% and 0·46 g/100 g dry-matter intake. The analyses on the breeds suggested that the Zebu cattle may have a higher true digestibility and a lower metabolic faecal nitrogen than the British cattle, although the differences were small and could not be subjected to statistical tests.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , April 1972 , pp. 173 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ashton, G. C. (1962). Comparative nitrogen digestibility in Brahman, Brahman × Shorthorn, Africander × Hereford and Hereford steers. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 58, 333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. & Mitchell, H. H. (1948). The factorisation of the protein requirements of ruminants and of the protein value of feeds with particular reference to the significance of the metabolio faecal nitrogen. J. anim. Sci. 7, 351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elliott, R. C. & Fokkema, K. (1960). Protein digestibility relationships in ruminants. Rhodesia agric. J. 57, 301.Google Scholar
Glover, J., Duthie, D. W. & French, M. H. (1957). The apparent digestibility of crude protein by the ruminant. 1. A synthesis of the results of digestibility trials with herbage and mixed feeds. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 48, 373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holter, J. A. & Reid, J. T. (1959). Relationship between the concentrations of crude protein and apparently digestible protein in forages. J. anim. Sci. 18, 1339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howes, J. R., Hentges, J. F. & Davis, G. K. (1963). Comparative digestive powers of Hereford and Brahman cattle. J. anim. Sci. 22, 22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milford, R. & Haydock, K. P. (1965). The nutritive value of protein in subtropical pasture species grown in south-east Queensland. Aust. J. exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 8, 419.Google Scholar
Mitchell, H. H. (1942). The evaluation of feeds on the basis of digestible and metabolizable nutrients. J. anim. Sci. 1, 159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Playne, M. T. (1970). Differences in the nutritional value of three cuts of Buffel grass for sheep and cattle. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 8, 511.Google Scholar
Robinson, D. W. & Stewart, G. A. (1968). Protein digestibility in sheep and cattle in north-western Australia. Ausl. J. exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 8, 419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Niekerk, B. D. H., Smith, D. W. W. Q. & Ooshuysen, D. (1967). The relationship between the crude protein content of South African feeds and its apparent digestion by ruminants. Proc. S. Afr. Soc. Anim. Prod. 6, 108.Google Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. (1966). Some aspects of nitrogen metabolism of British and Zebu-type cattle. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 6, 370.Google Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. (1967). Breed and nutritional effects on the composition of faeces, urine, and plasma from Hereford and Brahman × Hereford steers fed on high and low quality diets. Aust. J. agric. Res. 18, 1003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. (1969). The effect of increased rectal temperature on nitrogen metabolism in Brahman cross and Shorthorn × Hereford steers fed on lucerne chaff. Aust. J. agric. Res. 20, 607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. & Frisch, J. E. (1970 a). Digestibility and nitrogen metabolism in Brahman, Africander and Shorthorn × Hereford cattle fed lucerne hay. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 8, 131.Google Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. & Frisch, J. E. (1970 b). The effect of increased rectal temperature on nitrogen metabolism in Brahman cross and Shorthorn × Hereford steers fed on a low nitrogen roughage. Aust. J. agric. Res. 21, 857.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. & Springell, P. H. (1969). Effect of subclinical Helminthosis on nitrogen metabolism in beef cattle. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 73, 201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar