Abstract
BACKGROUNDMeeting the energy and nitrogen (N) requirements of high‐performing ruminants at the same time as avoiding digestive disturbances (i.e. rumen acidosis) is a key priority in ruminant nutrition. The present study evaluated the effect of a cereal ammoniation treatment, in which barley grains are combined with urea and enzymes that catalyze the conversion of urea to ammonia to optimize rumen function. Twelve rumen cannulated sheep were randomly divided into two groups and fed a diet containing 60% of ammoniated barley (AMM) or untreated barley supplemented with urea (CTL) to investigate the impact on rumen fermentation and feed utilization.RESULTSAMM had higher total N content and effective rumen degradable N than untreated barely. AMM sheep had a consistently higher rumen pH throughout the day (6.31 versus 6.03) and tended to have a lower post‐prandial ammonia peak and higher acetate molar proportion (+5.1%) than CTL sheep. The rumen environment in AMM sheep favored the colonization and utilization of agro‐industrial by‐products (i.e. orange pulp) by the rumen microbes leading to a higher feed degradability. AMM sheep also had higher total tract apparent N digestibility (+21.7%) and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (+34%), suggesting a higher N uptake and microbial protein synthesis than CTL sheep.CONCLUSIONThe inclusion of AMM in the diet of ruminants represents a valid strategy for maintaining rumen pH within a physiological range and improving N utilization by the rumen microbes, which could have positive effects on the health and productivity of animals in intensive production systems. These findings warrant further studies under conventional farm conditions. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Highlights
IntroductionDietary inclusion of large proportions of ground grains, especially those rich in starch that rapidly degrades in the rumen, can predispose livestock to digestive disorders such as rumen acidosis.[2] In this sense, the inherent functional complexity of the rumen microbiota could represent an opportunity to find alternative energy (e.g. agro-industrial by-products) and nitrogen (N) sources (e.g. non-protein N)
Modern intensive feeding systems demand large amounts of protein and cereal grains to support high production performances.[1]dietary inclusion of large proportions of ground grains, especially those rich in starch that rapidly degrades in the rumen, can predispose livestock to digestive disorders such as rumen acidosis.[2]
Rumen ammonia-N concentration peaked at 2 h after feeding (P = 0.001), and this peak tended to be more evident for control diet (CTL) than for ammoniated barley (AMM) diets (296 versus 186 mg N L−1), as indicated by the interaction between diet and time (P = 0.098)
Summary
Dietary inclusion of large proportions of ground grains, especially those rich in starch that rapidly degrades in the rumen, can predispose livestock to digestive disorders such as rumen acidosis.[2] In this sense, the inherent functional complexity of the rumen microbiota could represent an opportunity to find alternative energy (e.g. agro-industrial by-products) and nitrogen (N) sources (e.g. non-protein N). The inclusion of agro-industrial by-products in the diets of ruminants has been described as a strategy for improving farm economic and environmental sustainability.[3, 4] their practical use is often impaired by their low protein content and highly indigestible fiber.[5] Alternatively, because up to 80% of the starch in the grains is rapidly degraded in the rumen,[6] the partial substitution of protein (e.g. soybean meal) with non-protein N, such as feed-grade urea, may result in better synchronization on the availability of energy and N for the rumen microbes,[7] as well as lower feeding cost. Twelve rumen cannulated sheep were randomly divided into two groups and fed a diet containing 60% of ammoniated barley (AMM) or untreated barley supplemented with urea (CTL) to investigate the impact on rumen fermentation and feed utilization
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