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Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2004 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 12 | Page No.: 2216-2221
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Research Article

Evaluation of Digestibility, Nitrogen and Sulfur Balances and Rumen Fermentation of Diets Supplemented with Urea and/or Potassium Sulfate in Naeimi Sheep

Soliman N. Al-Dobeeb

ABSTRACT

Four mature fistulated Naeimi rams were used in a 4״ Latin square design to determine the effect of urea (U) and/or sulfur (S) supplementation (in the form of potassium sulfate) on nutrient digestibility, balances of nitrogen (N) and S and rumen fermentation (in terms of pH, total VFA and NH3-N concentrations). Animals were fed individually in metabolism cages and offered four experimental diets. The basal control diet (C-diet) consisted of ground Rhodes grass hay, ground barley grain and wheat bran, while the other three diets were supplemented with urea (U-diet), potassium sulfate (S-diet) or both U+S (US-diet). U-diet and US-diet gave a significant improvement in the digestibility of CP and Crude Fiber (CF). US-diet had improved the digestibility of Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE), while the digestibility of Ether Extract (EE) was not affected. TDN value of digestible portions was increased by 4% in U-diet and 8.5% in US-diet relative to the C-diet. S-diet did not lead to any improvement in the value of TDN or digestible CP. U-diet and US-diet were associated with significant increase in the N excreted in the feces and urine relative to the C-diet. N retained in U-diet and US-diet was also increased significantly by about 35.3 and 72.3% comparable to the C-diet, respectively. More than 82.7% of the N intake in U-diet was excreted, while 78.3% of the N intake in US-diet was excreted. Percentages of N retained relative to N intakes in C-diet, U-diet, S-diet and US-diet were 16.8, 17.3, 19.8 and 21.7%, respectively. US-diet showed insignificant increase in N and S retained by about 15.5 and 50% over that observed in the C-diet. US-diet gave an improvement in N retention over that in U-diet by about 27.4%. Excretions of S in feces and urine were approximately doubled in U-diet and US-diet comparable to the C-diet. S retained as percentages to S intakes in C-diet, U-diet, S-diet and US-diet were 25.1, 25.0, 18.2 and 18.0%, respectively. The pH values of rumen liquor (before feeding) did not differ between the four diets used. For 2 h after feeding, a sharp drop in pH values was observed in US-diet only. U-diet and US-diet showed significant increase in rumen ammonia-N before and after feeding, while S-diet did not show such increments. Concentrations of VFA 2 h after feeding were doubled in all treatments relative to the concentration before feeding. Diets supplemented with both U and S (but not any of them alone) were accompanied with an increase in VFA in rumen before or 2 h after feeding.
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