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A comparative study of non-protein nitrogen supplements for sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

N. W. Offer
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW
R. A. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW
R. F. E. Axford
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Soil Science, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW

Summary

A basal diet, or the basal diet supplemented with equi-nitrogenous amounts of either ammonium lactate, ammonium acetate or urea was fed to four re-entrant cannulated sheep in a randomized block design.

Collections of duodenal digesta were carried out automatically for a continuous period of 4 days following a 10-day equilibration period for each sheep on each diet.

Supplementation with non-protein nitrogen increased the passage of total amino acids to the duodenum and increased the proportion attributed to microbial protein. It improved pre-duodenal digestibility of modified acid-detergent fibre and increased post-abomasal digestibility of non-ammonia nitrogen, dry matter and gross energy.

Supplementation with non-protein nitrogen increased the energetic efficiency of microbial protein production in the rumen.

Ammonium lactate and acetate were safe and effective sources of non-protein nitrogen for dietary supplementation.

Supplementation with ammonium lactate led to a greater passage of microbial protein to the duodenum than did equi-nitrogenous supplements of urea or ammonium acetate.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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