Nutritional evaluation of different sources of nitrogen on digestible nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and production of rumen metabolites in growing Yankasa sheep

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate digestible nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and rumen metabolites in twenty growing Yankasa rams fed urea and /or sundried broiler litter (SDBL) as a partial or complete replacement for cotton seed cake (CSC) in diets for 90 days. The diets were: 1(CSC; control), 2(urea), 3(urea/SDBL), 4(CSC/urea) and 5(CSC/SDBL). The results indicated difference (P<0.05) in DM intake across diets, with animals fed CSC, urea and CSC/urea having the highest values (543.1, 523.4 and 483.6 g/day respectively), while those fed urea/SDBL and CSC/SDBL ((459.5 and 424.3g/day respectively) had the lowest feed intake. Mean digestible CP intake differed (P<0.001)across the diets and the values were higher for rams fed CSC and urea (75.7 and 72.7g/day) and lowest for those on CSC/SDBL (49.0g/day). However, mean digestible ADF intake was similar among the diets. A positive nitrogen balance was observed for all animals across the treatments, with significant (P<0.05) differences between treatments ranging from 4.3g/day for rams fed CSC/SDBL to 7.5g/day for those on urea. pH decreased with time after feeding. At 3 hrs post feeding, pH was highest (P<0.01) for rams fed CSC/SDBL and CSC/urea (6.9) and lowest for those on urea alone (6.1) and CSC (6.2). There was a gradual increase in the concentrations of both rumen ammonia-N (RAN) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) after feeding. Rams fed urea and urea/SDBL (37.5 and 34.2mg/100ml respectively) had the highest (P<0.001) RAN concentration 3 hrs after feeding, while those on the other diets recorded the lowest. On the other hand, rams fed CSC/SDBL (13.1mmol/100ml) had the highest (P<0.001) VFA concentrations while those on urea the lowest (10.5mmol/100ml). It was concluded from this study that diets containing urea and CSC/urea fed to Yankasa sheep gave results comparable to those fed cotton seed cake (control), which are better than for those fed sundried broiler litterbased diets in terms of digestible nutrients intake, positive nitrogen balance and production of adequate rumen ammonia-N. However, rams fed CSC/SDBL had a better concentration of total volatile fatty acids of rumen fluid after feeding.

Microbial Protein Production and Rumen Metabolites Parameters of Yankasa Rams Fed Diets Containing Different Nitrogen Sources With Balanites Aegyptiaca Leaf Powder as Rumen Buffer

“…The higher TVFA values of 129.14 and 130.54 mmol/L recorded in this study were higher than 15.33 mmol/dl reported Jokthan by et al (2013) and 13.10 mmol/dl recorded for Yankasa rams fed with sun dried broiler litter (SDBL) (Abubakar et al, 2010). It was also higher than the range of 6.19 to 11.59 mmol/dl reported by (Ngele, 2008) and 14.02 to 15.67mmol/dl by (Elemam et al, 2009).…”

“…Rumen liquor was collected in the morning (0 hour before feeding) and (4 hours after feeding) at the last week of the experiment with a suction tube as describe by Abubakar et al (2010). The tube was inserted from the mouth into the rumen where 20mls of rumen liquor was withdrawn from three (3) animals in each treatment.…”

Efficacy of Dietary Urea-Impregnated Zeolite in Improving Rumen Fermentation Characteristics of Local Lamb

“…Ruminal ammonia concentration resulted in present research varied from 11.50 to 15.00 mM (equivalent with 161 to 210 mg ammonia N/L) and fallen within ruminal ammonia N range (12.48 to 18.28 mM, with optimal level of 13.78 mM) of young rams fed rations contained different level of hydrolyzed feather meal as reported by Puastuti and Mathius (2008). Moreover, Abubakar et al (2010) reported higher ruminal ammonia N concentrations, i.e. in range of 21.5 to 37.5 mg/100 ml (about 15.36 to 26.79 mM) resulted from sheep fed rations contained different nitrogen sources.…”

Growth Performance and Serum Biochemical Profile in Yankasa Rams Fed Alkali-Treated Groundnut Shells

“…This is an indication that there was no kidney dysfunction or the diets provided adequate protein for the animals (Aruwayo, et al, 2011). The higher values of blood urea nitrogen for rams receiving UGNS diets in this study might be as a result of high release of ammonia in the rumen resulting to high absorption of ammonia from the rumen into the blood (Abubakar et al, 2010;Gunun et al, 2013b;Nayawo et al, 2017). Also, Yadav and Yadav (1988) reported increased in blood urea in cattle fed treated straw compared to the untreated.…”