Urea Utilization in Wethers Receiving the Urease Inhibitor, Acetohydroxamic Acid

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Abstract
Three levels of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) were administered into the rumen of two sheep. Each sheep received 90, 180 and 360 mg. of AHA per kg. of body weight each day for 5 days in addition to serving as his own control. The sheep were fed an 85% roughage ration in which urea supplied 50% of the total dietary nitrogen. Rumen fluid samples were obtained prior to and periodically after the morning feeding on the first, third and fifth day of administering the AHA. Rumen ammonia peaks were depressed with all levels of AHA as compared to that of the same animals when no AHA was administered. However, only the high level of AHA depressed the ammonia peak for the entire 5-day period and resulted in a relatively sustained release of ammonia. With the high level of AHA, rumen urea and AHA concentrations reached a maximum at 1 hr. after administration of AHA and detectable levels of each were present for 4.5 more hours. This level of AHA had little effect on total or individual rumen volatile fatty acids. A reversal nitrogen balance trial was conducted with four intact wethers fed the ration described above. Each wether received 375 mg. AHA/kg. of body weight per day in addition to serving as his own control. The wethers receiving AHA retained a significantly (P<.05) larger percent of the dietary nitrogen than the controls. AHA had little effect on the digestibility of the ration or on bacterial or protozoal numbers. Copyright © 1969. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1969 by American Society of Animal Science

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