Supplementation of maize stover for Ethiopian Menz sheep: effects of cottonseed, noug (Guizotia abyssinica) or sunflower cake with or without maize on the intake, growth, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance and excretion of purine derivatives

Abstract

Thirty-six male Ethiopian Menz sheep (9 to 22 months old, average live weight 15·8 (s.d. 1·84) kg), given maize stover (1·5 timesad libitum) supplemented with either 75 g cottonseed cake (CSC), 114 g noug cake (NGC;Guizotia abyssinica) or 112 g sunflower cake (SFC) with or without maize grain, were used in an 88-day study comprising growth and balance trials. The trials were undertaken according to a randomized-block design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement.There were no significant interactions (P> 0·05). Sheep consumed significantly more stover when supplemented with CSC compared with NGC and SFC (P< 0·05). Maize grain significantly increased organic matter intake (P< 0·001). Although CSC tended to support lower live-weight gains, the effect of protein was not significant. Maize grain increased live-weight gains (P< 0·01).Urinary nitrogen (N) excretions were similar between CSC and SFC but about 0·22 higher with NGC (P> 0·05). The faecal N output was 0·33 (P< 0·01) and 0·18 (P< 0·05) higher with CSC than with NGC and SFC respectively. Maize grain had no effect on any of the N-balance measurements.Cottonseed cake supported lower daily production of purine derivatives (PD) (P< 0·01), microbial purine (P < 0·01) and microbial protein (P< 0·01) than either NGC or SFC. Maize grain increased the daily excretion of total PD (P< 0·05), microbial purine (P< 0·05) and microbial protein (P< 0·05). Neither the protein source nor maize grain affected the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. It was concluded that SFC was utilized more effectively both in terms of rumen microbial N synthesis, N retention and growth. The addition of a small amount of energy as crushed maize grain increased microbial N synthesis, N retention and live-weight gain.

Effect of Fasting on the Urinary Excretion of Nitrogen and Purine Derivatives by Zebu(Bos indicus)and Crossbred (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) Cattle

“…Results of studies at ILRI on the use of urinary purine derivatives to estimate microbial protein supply have been fairly consistent with those reported in the literature for sheep (Osuji et al, 1993) but not for cattle (Abule, 1994). The inconsistent results obtained with cattle may derive from the estimates of the endogenous contribution used in the equations proposed by Chen et al (1990a).…”

Mineral solubility of Panicum maximum with four herbaceous forage legume mixtures incubated in the rumen of N' Dama steers

“…Thus, there were six replicates per treatment. Bags were withdrawn by a method of sequential addition (Osuji et al. 1993).…”

“…Thus, there were six replicates per treatment. Bags were withdrawn by a method of sequential addition (Osuji et al 1993). The bags were then washed in cold running water until the rinsed water became clear.…”

Effects of adding food by‐products mainly including noodle waste to total mixed ration silage on fermentation quality, feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization and ruminal fermentation in wethers

“…Microbial protein synthesis is enhanced when easily fermentable carbohydrates are fed because total volatile fatty acid production increases (Hoover & Stokes 1991; Firkins 1996; Hristov & Ropp 2003). Reducing nitrogen losses through this system will improve nitrogen utilization (Osuji et al . 1993; Shem et al .…”