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Influence of Nitrite and Hydroxylamine on Performance and Vitamin A and Carotene Metabolism of Ruminants^{1, 2,}

North Carolina State University, Raleigh

Abstract

Sixty-four Holstein male calves were used in two experiments to study the effect of nitrite and hydroxylamine on the performance and vitamin A and carotene metabolism of ruminants.

The results of the combined analysis of Experiments I and II indicated that the levels of hydroxylamine (2.2 gm. and 4.4 gm./100 kg. body weight) fed in the experiments lowered feed intake and weight gain. The feeding of potassium nitrite had no effect on performance. The 4.4 gm. level of hydroxylamine also resulted in lower hemoglobin and higher methemoglobin levels. Neither level of hydroxylamine or potassium nitrite had any effect on the vitamin A status of the calves as measured by serum vitamin A, serum carotene and liver vitamin A levels. There was no indication of an interaction between nitrate reduction products and vitamin A.

Experiments III and IV were conducted to determine if nitrate or nitrate reduction products accelerate the destruction of vitamin A or carotene when incubated with rumen fluid in vitro. Vitamin A and carotene destruction was no more rapid in the incubation flasks containing rumen fluid from nitrate and nitrite-fed steers (17.6 gm. and 4.4 gm. per kg. bodyweight, respectively) than in those containing fluid from control steers. The addition of hydroxylamine to incubation flasks did not significantly accelerate vitamin A or carotene destruction.

The results of these investigations indicate that the nitrate reduction products, NH₂OH and KNO₂ do not interfere with vitamin A and carotene metabolism of ruminants.

¹ Paper Number 2473 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh.

² This paper is part of a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

³ Present address: Chemistry Department, University of Texas, Austin.