Digestion and nitrogen conservation in cattle and buffaloes given rice straw with or without molasses

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Abdullah ◽  
J. V. Nolan ◽  
M. Mahyuddin ◽  
S. Jalaludin

SUMMARYUsing [14C]urea, the rates of urea synthesis in the body, excretion in the urine and degradation in the rumen and gut were compared in 20-month-old Kedah-Kelantan cattle and swamp buffaloes at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Malaysia in 1987. The animals were fed rice straw or straw plus molasses.The buffaloes were heavier than the cattle and had higher straw and nitrogen intakes, although these intakes did not differ significantly when compared on the basis of metabolic liveweight (W0·75).Rumen pH in the buffaloes was lower, whereas ammonia and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were higher than in the cattle. Total VFA concentration was lower when the diet contained molasses. Rumen bicarbonate kinetics did not differ significantly between species or diets.There were no significant differences between species in plasma urea concentration, or urea synthesis rate per W0·75, or endogenous urea movement into the rumen per W0·75.The buffaloes consumed more water and discharged twice as much urine as the cattle, but nevertheless excreted less urea per W0·75, and a larger fraction of their endogenously produced urea entered the gut. Movement of urea into the rumen per W0·75 was lower when the diet contained molasses.

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
BW Norton ◽  
RM Murray ◽  
KW Entwistle ◽  
JV Nolan ◽  
FM Ball ◽  
...  

Some aspects of nitrogen metabolism of sheep given Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.), Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) and mixed native pasture were investigated. All diets were of low nutritive value as demonstrated by negative nitrogen and energy balances in sheep on these diets. Studies of urea metabolism demonstrated a significant relationship between plasma urea concentration, the rate of irreversible loss of urea from plasma and the rate of urea degradation in the digestive tract. On average, 81% of the urea synthesized in the body was transferred to the digestive tract and degraded to ammonia and carbon dioxide. The proportion of urea degradation occurring intraruminally was estimated during an intravenous infusion of 14C urea by measuring the rate of appearance of 14CO2 in ruminal fluid, the proportion degraded post-ruminally being obtained by difference. Urea degraded in the rumen accounted for 7–13% of the total quantity degraded in the digestive tract, and the rate of urea transfer (0.55 ± 0.13 g nitrogen/day) was not related to the rate of urea synthesis in the body. The lower digestive tract was the major site of urea degradation in sheep given these low protein diets, and the rate of urea transfer to this part of the digestive tract was linearly related to the rate of urea synthesis in the body. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to nitrogen conservation in sheep given low quality diets.


1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Lee ◽  
DW Hennessy ◽  
JV Nolan ◽  
RA Leng

Twenty-seven Hereford steers (227�3 kg) were offered ad libitum low-quality grass pasture hay containing 4.3 g N/kg DM. These steers were offered one of three maize supplements (nil, 570 g/day crushed maize or 680 g/day whole maize) alone or with one of two nitrogen (N) supplements (1 12 g/day urea: 250 g/day molasses, or 800 g/day pelleted protein meals). The crushed maize, whole maize and protein meal supplements were calculated to be isoenergetic on a metabolisable energy basis, and the urea and protein meal supplements were isonitrogenous.Both urea and protein meal supplements increased the intakes of hay and total digestible organic matter (DOMI), but there was a significant interaction between maize and N supplements such that maize increased hay and DOM intakes when offered alone. Unsupplemented steers ate only 1.98 kg OM of hay/day, whereas N supplemented steers ate 3.96-4.40 kg OM/day, and those supplemented with crushed and whole maize alone ate 2.45 and 2.85 kg OM/day respectively. The intakes of hay by the urea and protein meal supplemented groups were not significantly different.Both N and maize supplements had positive effects on liveweight change (P < 0.01), with N having the largest effect. Steers supplemented with protein meal gained 210 g/day more than those offered urea (P < 0.05), although DOMI was only 110 g/day more, indicating an effect of protein on the efficiency of utilisation of absorbed nutrients.N supplements increased rumen ammonia concentrations from 10�3.0 mg NH3-N/l in unsupplemented steers to 169� 19.3 and 105� 19.0 mg NH3-N/l in steers offered urea and protein meal respectively; there was a significant interaction between the form of N supplement and form of maize supplement (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rumen (65� 1.9 mM) did not differ significantly between supplements.Glucose entry rate was positively related to liveweight change and was increased by both the N supplements and whole maize. Glucose entry rate, adjusted for DOMI, was higher in protein meal supplemented steers than those receiving urea or no N supplement (P < 0.01), and these steers had the highest growth rate.Urea pool size, and synthesis rate in the body, were greater in steers given the urea and protein meal supplements (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in these measurements between urea and protein meal supplements.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
BW Norton ◽  
JB Moran ◽  
JV Nolan

Urea metabolism was studied in Brahman cross, buffalo, banteng and Shorthorn cattle offered a low quality hay. Intravenous injections of [14C]urea and 51Cr-EDTA were used to determine the irreversible loss of urea from the plasma, the degradation of urea in the rumen and lower digestive tract, and the glomerular filtration rate. When species were compared at equal liveweights and nitrogen intakes, buffaloes had significantly higher (P < 0.05) plasma urea concentrations and rates of irreversible loss of urea carbon from plasma than the other species. There were no significant differences between species in urinary urea excretion. Urea degradation in the digestive tract was linearly related to the irreversible loss of urea, and the proportion of irreversible urea loss degraded was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Shorthorn cattle (48%) than in the other species (73–91%). Shorthorn cattle reabsorbed urea from the glomerular filtrate with a lower efficiency (60%) than did the other species (85–94%). In Brahman cross, buffalo and banteng, plasma urea recycled to the rumen was a relatively constant amount (4.3 g nitrogen/d) and represented on average 39% of the urea degraded in all parts of the digestive tract. Urea degraded in the digestive tract increased linearly with increasing irreversible loss of urea from plasma. It was concluded that, despite significant differences between species in urea synthesis and degradation, there was little indication that these differences constituted a significant nitrogen conservation mechanism in any one species.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (3) ◽  
pp. G300-G310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrycja Puiman ◽  
Barbara Stoll ◽  
Lars Mølbak ◽  
Adrianus de Bruijn ◽  
Henk Schierbeek ◽  
...  

We examined whether changes in the gut microbiota induced by clinically relevant interventions would impact the bioavailability of dietary amino acids in neonates. We tested the hypothesis that modulation of the gut microbiota in neonatal pigs receiving no treatment (control), intravenously administered antibiotics, or probiotics affects whole body nitrogen and amino acid turnover. We quantified whole body urea kinetics, threonine fluxes, and threonine disposal into protein, oxidation, and tissue protein synthesis with stable isotope techniques. Compared with controls, antibiotics reduced the number and diversity of bacterial species in the distal small intestine (SI) and colon. Antibiotics decreased plasma urea concentrations via decreased urea synthesis. Antibiotics elevated threonine plasma concentrations and turnover, as well as whole body protein synthesis and proteolysis. Antibiotics decreased protein synthesis rate in the proximal SI and liver but did not affect the distal SI, colon, or muscle. Probiotics induced a bifidogenic microbiota and decreased plasma urea concentrations but did not affect whole body threonine or protein metabolism. Probiotics decreased protein synthesis in the proximal SI but not in other tissues. In conclusion, modulation of the gut microbiota by antibiotics and probiotics reduced hepatic ureagenesis and intestinal protein synthesis, but neither altered whole body net threonine balance. These findings suggest that changes in amino acid and nitrogen metabolism resulting from antibiotic- or probiotic-induced shifts in the microbiota are localized to the gut and liver and have limited impact on whole body growth and anabolism in neonatal piglets.


1967 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Cocimano ◽  
R. A. Leng

1. The entry rates of urea into the urea pool of the body fluids have been measured in sheep given rations varying in crude protein percentage from 3.5 to 27.3.2. Results obtained with a single injection and with continuous infusions of [14C]urea were essentially the same.3. The difference between the entry rate and the rate of excretion of urea in the urine was taken to indicate the quantity of urea degraded in the alimentary tract.4. Plasma concentrations and urea entry rates were significantly and linearly related.5. The relationship between excretion rate and plasma urea concentration was best described by a cubic equation.6. Degradation of urea in sheep was found to be extensive in all the animals studied; as the protein intake increased, the quantity of urea degraded also increased but the percentage of urea entering the body pool that was degraded was decreased. Animals given a ration containing 3.5% crude protein degraded 76–92% of the urea entering the body pool.7. A rectilinear relationship was found between pool size and plasma urea concentration. The urea space in animals given low-protein rations was significantly less than in animals on high-protein rations.8. The effects of starvation for 2, 4 and 6 days on urea metabolism in sheep were investi-gated. In a11 the sheep starved for 2 days there was a significant increase in urea pool size, but the entry rate was markedly depressed indicating a retention of urea in the body pool on starvation.9. A significant amount of nitrogen was found to go through the system: rumen ammonia → portal blood ammonia→blood urea→rumen ammonia.10.Urea excretion rate, urea clearance by the kidney, urine flow rate and the ratio of the concentration of urea in urine to that in plasma (urea U:P ratio) were also examined.11. There were significant correlations between urine flow rate and urea excretion and between plasma urea concentration and urine flow rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-694
Author(s):  
Nanis Nurhidayah ◽  
Fadjar Satrija ◽  
Elok Budi Retnani ◽  
Dewi Apri Astuti ◽  
Sri Murtini

Background and Aim: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and intensity and to identify the associated risk factors and impact of trematode infection in swamp buffaloes reared under different agro-climatic conditions in Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A total of 580 fecal samples were collected from swamp buffaloes in five different agro-climatic areas in Banten and Central Java Provinces, Indonesia. The fecal samples were examined using the Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory Technique to determine the prevalence and intensity of trematode infection. The risk factors for infection were determined from an in-depth interview of owners/keepers, and the results were analyzed using Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. The infection was also correlated with swamp buffalo production parameters (body weight and body condition score [BCS]). Results: From all fecal samples, the overall prevalence of trematode infection was 64.83%, which comprised Fasciola spp. (16.03%; mean eggs per gram [EPG]±SD: 1.02±0.43) and Paramphistomatidae (62.93%; mean EPG±SD: 1.01±0.66). The main risk factor for trematode infection was feeding animals with rice straw (odds ratio [OR]: 40.124); the risk of trematode infection was 40.142 times higher in buffaloes that consumed rice straw. Other risk factors included the frequency of anthelmintic treatment (OR: 4.666), age (OR: 0.449), and drinking water source (OR: 0.358). Trematode infection did not significantly affect the body weight or BCS of swamp buffaloes. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of trematode infection was high in swamp buffaloes, the intensity of infection was low, and the infection did not affect the animals' physical parameters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-305
Author(s):  
G. E. Jokthan ◽  
C. A. M. Lakpini ◽  
A. M. Adamu ◽  
G. N. Akpa ◽  
I. A. Adeyinka

A study was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing rice straw with pigeon pea forage on rumen and blood metabolites of Yankasa sheep. Sixteen yearling Yankasa ewes were used for the study. A completely randomized design was used with four animals per treatment. A basal rice straw diet was provided ad libitum and pigeon pea forage supplemented at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%of the body weight. Rumen and blood samples were collected at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours post-feeding. Results of the study showed low (1.16-3.81mg/100ml) NH3-N concentration in the unsupplemented ewes. Supplementation at 1 % body weight improved the level of NH3-N concentration to 10.38mg/100ml. Volatile faty acids also increased from 26.33 to 43.33mg/l in 0.0% and 1.0% of body weight pigeon pea forage supplementation. pH variations within treatments remain within acceptable range for rumen microbial activity: There was a uniformly low level of plasma urea nitrogen in the unsupplemented diet across sampling time, supplementing at 1.0% of the body weight had the highest plasma urea nitrogen level with 3 and 6 hours post-feeding being significantly (P<0.05) higher than other sampling time. Levels of packed cell volume and haemoglobin improved from 21.00% and 48% in the supplemented diet to 32.00% and 73% at 1.0% pigeon pea forage supplementation respectively


1976 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Allen ◽  
E. L. Miller

1. Plasma urea entry rate, urinary urea excretion and, by difference, urea recycling in the body, together with the flow of non-ammonia N through the abomasum and digestion of dry matter (dm) before the abomasum were determined in both wethers and lambs receiving cereal-starch diets supplemented with urea to give 60–120 g crude protein (N × 6.25)/kgdm.2. Lambs excreted less urea in urine than wethers given the same diet.3. Relationships between plasma urea entry rate or urine urea excretion rate and plasma urea concentration were different for lambs compared to wethers suggesting greater conser vation of body N by renal control in lambs.4. Recycling of urea was not related to plasma urea concentration in wethers but was related exponentially in lambs, suggesting recycling is controlled rather than the result of simple diffusion from the blood to the gastro-intestinal tract.5. Abomasal non-ammonia-N flow was similar for wethers and lambs and increased linearly with urea supplementation.6.dmdigestion prior to the abomasum was not significantly altered, although there was a tendency for decreased digestion of the basal diet given to lambs.7. Maximum microbial N flow to the abomasum was estimated as 30 g N/kg organic matter (OM) fermented in the rumen.8. This work and the literature reviewed suggested maximum net microbial production can be obtained when the diet supplies an amount of fermentable N equal to the microbial N output. It is calculated the diet should supply approximately 26 g fermentable N/kg digestible OM or 1.8 g fermentable N/MJ metabolizable energy. This corresponds to a fermentable crude protein supply varying from 65 to 130 g/kg DM as digestible OM content increases from 400 to 800 g/kg DM.


1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2118-2123
Author(s):  
J Sternby

A new method for the calculation of dialysis dose from continuous measurements of dialysate urea concentrations has been developed. It is based on urea mass in the patient instead of plasma concentrations, and results in a measure of dialysis dose that has been named whole body Kt/V. The measured urea mass removal rate and the slope of the dialysate urea concentration curve are the key parameters needed for the calculations. No assumptions have to be made about urea distribution in the body (single or double pool, etc.). Blood sampling is not needed. This simplifies the logistics and eliminates the problems with rebound and timing in taking samples. The total urea mass present in the body before treatment is also obtained. It can be used directly, or in relation to body weight or water volume, as a measure of the level of urea in the body. This may serve as an alternative to pretreatment plasma concentration. If a pretreatment plasma urea concentration is available, the urea distribution volume can be calculated, which may be of separate clinical interest.


1985 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Geiseler ◽  
J. D. S. Kay ◽  
V. G. Oberholzer ◽  
J. W. T. Seakins ◽  
M. Hjelm

1. A method is described by which the rate of synthesis of urea can be calculated from the change of plasma concentration of urea after an alanine load. 2. The results can be expressed in terms of f, the maximum increase in the rate of urea synthesis, and t, the time at which urea synthesis reaches its maximum. 3. These parameters are calculated by an algebraic curve-fitting technique which is suitable for a desk computer. 4. The method removes the need for isotopic analysis and urine collections. 5. The effect of various errors and experimental conditions on the calculated synthesis parameters is investigated.


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