Long-term adaptation of sheep to low protein roughage diets: effects of water deprivation and urea supplementation in the drinking water

Farid, M. F. A.; Nasr, H.M. Abou-El; Hassan, N.I.; Swidan, F. Z.

doi:10.1016/s0140-1963(18)31028-0

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The high-fiber content in some basal diets does not cause dramatic changes in microbial growth because it is slowly ingested [12]. For example, under dry pasture conditions, energy source supplements are more necessary than nitrogen supplements to accelerate microbial protein synthesis in the rumen for urea [35]. The lack of change in total protozoa is likely due to the interrelationships between protozoa and ruminal bacteria in the N-cycle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of urea supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient intake, digestibility, and performance in sheep: A meta-analysis

Wahyono¹,

Sholikin²,

Konca

et al. 2022

Vet World

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Background and Aim: As a non-protein nitrogen source, urea is a popular, low cost, and easily obtained protein supplement. The objective of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis of the effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation and sheep performance. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 experiments from 21 articles were compiled into a dataset. The levels of dietary urea varied from 0 to 31 g/kg of dry matter (DM). Parameters observed were rumen fermentation product, nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, and sheep performance. This dataset was analyzed using a mixed model methodology, with urea supplementation levels as fixed effects and the different experiments as random effects. Results: Increasing levels of urea were associated with increases (p=0.008) in rumen pH, butyrate (C4) production, and ammonia (NH3–N) concentration. Urea supplementation had minor effects on total volatile fatty acids (p=0.242), total protozoa (p=0.429), and the microbial N supply (p=0.619), but tended to increase methane production (CH4; p<0.001). Supplementation of urea increased the intake of dry matter (DM; p=0.004) and crude protein (CP; p=0.001). Digestibility parameters, such as DM digestibility (DMD) and CP digestibility (CPD), also increased (p<0.01) as a result of urea supplementation. Retained N (p=0.042) and N intake (p<0.001) were higher with increasing levels of urea supplementation. In terms of animal performance, supplementation of urea increased average daily gain (ADG; p=0.024), but decreased the hot carcass weight percentage (p=0.017). Conclusion: This meta-analysis reports the positive effects of urea supplementation on rumen fermentation products (i.e., pH, C4, and NH3–N), intake (DM, CP, and N), digestibility (DMD and CPD), and ADG in sheep.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of urea supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient intake, digestibility, and performance in sheep: A meta-analysis

Wahyono¹,

Sholikin²,

Konca

et al. 2022

Vet World

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“…Several experiments around the world suggest a clear effect of supplementation on the performance of pen-fed sheep; however, responses in the field have been less clear (Tudor and Morris, 1971;Mulholland and Coombe, 1979;Butler et al, 1987). This discrepancy may arise from several causes: (1) diet selectivity is more important in field experiments (Tudor and Morris, 1971), (2) diet selection may change with supplementation (Hatfield et al, 1991), (3) urea often decreases forage palatability (Bhattacharya and Pervez, 1973;Butler et al, 1987), (4) unsupplemented sheep may show compensatory growth in the more favourable season (Entwistle and Knights, 1974;Mulholland and Coombe, 1979) and (5) N-restricted sheep may markedly increase their nitrogen use efficiency by reducing nitrogen excretion and increasing N recycling (Farid, 1985;Farid et al, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urea supplementation effects on the utilization of low‐quality forage and lamb production in patagonian rangelands

Golluscio

Paruelo

Mercau

et al. 1998

Grass and Forage Science

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The effect of feeding a urea-based supplement for the last 8 weeks of pregnancy was examined on ewes grazing the grass-shrub steppes of NW Patagonia, Argentina. The productivity of ewes and lambs and the utilization rate of the major, less preferred, grass species (Stipa speciosa, 27% cover) was analysed. In a paddockscale experiment, ewes grazed two areas of 450-500 ha from 15 August to 15 February at a stocking rate of 0·5 ewes ha Ϫ1 . From 15 August to 10 October, one group of ewes was given access to a urea-based supplement containing 300 g kg Ϫ1 urea, 320 g kg Ϫ1 salt, 30 g kg Ϫ1 molasses and 300 g kg Ϫ1 bone meal. Average supplement consumption was 3·5 g ewe Ϫ1 d Ϫ1 . The performance of 100 ewes in each of the two areas was evaluated. Supplemented ewes gained 4·2 kg more live weight than the control ewes between 15 August and 10 October (prepartum) (liveweight gain was 10·3 vs. 6·1 kg ewe Ϫ1 , P < 0·05). The number of live lambs at 8 weeks of age, as a proportion of ewes mated, was 15% higher in the supplemented than in the control group (0·634 vs. 0·553, P < 0·05). A similar increase in the live weight of lambs at 8 weeks of age in the supplemented group compared with the controls was also observed (12·1 vs. 10·6 kg, P < 0·05). In the paddock with the supplemented ewes, there was a significant increase in the proportion of Stipa speciosa plants defoliated (0·62 vs. 0·38, P < 0·05) and in the intensity of defoliation of these plants. It was concluded that urea-based supplements increased productivity of ewes and that this was likely to be associated with an increase in the intake, and possibly digestibility, of the less preferred species such as Stipa speciosa.

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Recovered energy and efficiency of digestion in sheep and goats fed Atriplex nummularia compared to alfalfa hay

et al. 2016

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Long-term adaptation of sheep to low protein roughage diets: effects of water deprivation and urea supplementation in the drinking water

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

Effects of urea supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient intake, digestibility, and performance in sheep: A meta-analysis

Effects of urea supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient intake, digestibility, and performance in sheep: A meta-analysis

Urea supplementation effects on the utilization of low‐quality forage and lamb production in patagonian rangelands

Recovered energy and efficiency of digestion in sheep and goats fed Atriplex nummularia compared to alfalfa hay

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