Nitrate Reduction Studies with Sheep

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Abstract
Two trials were conducted with sheep to study nitrate reduction. In the first trial sheep were fed a purified diet in which a mixture of potassium and sodium nitrates supplied the dietary nitrogen. When molybdenum was omitted from the diet, blood nitrate levels of the sheep were about three times higher than when molybdenum was present. Conversely blood nitrite levels were higher when molybdenum was present. The blood nitrite level was not affected by the presence of iron and copper, which are required for nitrite reduction. However, feed consumption of the sheep receiving no copper and iron was only half that of sheep receiving the complete ration, yet their blood nitrite levels were similar. In the second trial the nitrate-containing purified diet with and without molybdenum was placed in the rumen. Ruminal fluid and blood samples were then taken at zero and at 9 successive hours after nitrate administration. Integration of nitrates and nitrites of the ruminal fluid with blood nitrate and nitrite levels indicates that molybdenum is required for nitrate reduction, and that the pH of the ruminal fluid plays an important role in influencing the rates at which the microflora utilize nitrates and nitrites. Copyright © 1965. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1965 by American Society of Animal Science

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