Influence of Dietary Nitrogen on Nitrogen Metabolism in the Rumen

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Abstract
In vivo trials, utilizing 4 fistulated steers, were conduced with 4 rations: cottonseed hulls (basal); casein + basal; urea + basal; and soybean meal + basal. Significant differences (P < .01) in ammonia in the rumen liquor were observed when urea or casern were fed as compared to the basal diet. Differences in levels of ammonia observed when urea was fed as compared to soybean meal were significant (P <.01), as were differences between urea and casein (P < .05). Changes in the ration resulted in concentrations of blood-urea which were correlated with rumen-ammonia concentration. The casein + basal diet was associated with greater quantities of propionic, butyric and valeric acids in rumen liquor than when the other rations were fed. The urea + basal ration was associated with the highest levels of acetic acid.