Influence of Supplemental Energy and Biuret Nitrogen on the Utilization of Low Quality Roughage by Sheep

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
TWO experiments were conducted with 68 yearling wethers on the influence of supplemental nitrogen (feed grade biuret) and supplemental energy on voluntary intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance when sheep were fed low-quality (3.28 and 4.51% crude protein) pangolagrass hay. In Experiment 1, the 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments involved 0 or 10 g added nitrogen and 0, 50, 100 or 200 g energy supplement per sheep daily. Experiment 2 was a 3 × 3 factorial with 0, 8 or 16 g added nitrogen and 0, 60 or 120 g energy supplement per sheep daily. The energy supplement (4.58% crude protein) contained 50% corn meal, 25% sucrose and 25% starch. In both experiments, supplemental nitrogen increased hay intake (P<.01) and apparent digestibility of nitrogen and cellulose (P<.01). Nitrogen supplementation increased (P<.01) organic matter digestion in Experiment 2, and to a lesser extent (P<.05) in Experiment 1. All sheep that received supplemental nitrogen were in positive nitrogen balance. Those fed hay alone or with energy supplement only, were in negative balance. Increasing supplemental nitrogen from 8 to 16 g per head daily did not influence the parameters tested. Supplemental energy did not increase the voluntary intake of hay, and depressed cellulose digestibility (P<.01). Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: