Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8260
Title: The Effect of Energy Supplementation on Intake and Utilisation Efficiency of Urea-treated Low-quality Roughage in Sheep I: Rumen Digestion and Feed Intake
Contributor(s): Migwi, Perminus K (author); Godwin, Ian  (author); Nolan, John V  (author)orcid ; Kahn, Lewis  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2011
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2011.10282Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8260
Abstract: Inefficient rumen microbial fermentation is a major factor limiting intake of low quality roughage in ruminants. In this study, the effect of energy supplementation on rumen microbial fermentation, absorption of balanced digestion products and voluntary feed intake in sheep was investigated. A basal diet of a urea-treated mixture of wheaten chaff and barley straw (3:1 DM) containing 22.2 g N/kg DM was used. Four Merino-cross wethers weighing 45±4.38 kg and fitted with permanent rumen and abomasal cannulae were allocated to four treatments in a 4x4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were basal diet (E0), or basal diet supplemented with sucrose (112.5 g/d) administered to the animals intra-ruminally (ER), abomasally (EA), or through both routes (50:50) (ERA). Feed intake (basal and dietary) was increased (p<0.05) by sucrose supplementation through the rumen (ER) or abomasum (EA). However, there was no difference (p>0.05) in intake between animals on the control diet and those supplemented with sucrose through both intraruminal and abomasal routes (ERA). The digestibility of DM and OM was highest in ER and EA supplemented animals. Although the rumen pH was reduced (p<0.001) in animals supplemented with sucrose entirely intra-ruminally (ER), the 'in sacco' degradation of barley straw in the rumen was not adversely affected (p>0.05). Intra-ruminal sucrose supplementation resulted in a higher concentration of total VFA, acetate and butyrate, while the pattern of fermentation showed a higher propionate: acetate ratio. Intra-ruminal supplementation also increased (p<0.05) the glucogenic potential (G/E) of the absorbed VFA. However, there was no difference (p>0.05) in microbial protein production between the four dietary treatments. Protozoa numbers were increased (p<0.05) by intra-ruminal supplementation of sucrose.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 24(5), p. 623-635
Publisher: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
Place of Publication: Republic of Korea
ISSN: 1976-5517
1011-2367
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070204 Animal Nutrition
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 830311 Sheep - Wool
830310 Sheep - Meat
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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