Short-term vasopressin analogue treatment does not influence the nitrogen balance in sheep

Abstract

The influence of vasopressin (dDAVP) on the nitrogen balance in 12 sheep, allotted to 2 groups of 6, fed a daily ration containing 16.01 g of nitrogen, was examined. The experimental animals received 12.5 µg dDAVP injected subcutaneously twice daily for 10 days before N balance was determined. Water intake and urine flow rate decreased due to dDAVP. The urine N concentration was significantly higher in the dDAVP group than in controls. Urinary and faecal N excretion and retained N (g/d and % of N intake) did not differ between groups. It is concluded that short-term administration of the vasopressin analogue does not affect the nitrogen balance in sheep.