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Influence of Ammonium Salts of Volatile Fatty Acids upon Ration Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation and Nitrogen Retention by Steers¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68503

Abstract

Ammonium salts of VFA were compared to soybean meal and urea as to their effectiveness for supplying supplemental nitrogen as measured by their influence upon ration digestibility, rumen fermentation and nitrogen retention when added to a pelleted prairie hay diet. In two cattle metabolism studies, digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, cellulose or crude protein were not influenced by the source of supplemental nitrogen. However, animals fed soybean meal or ammonium salts either in mixtures or individually retained more of their dietary nitrogen daily as compared to steers fed urea. Steers fed ammonium propionate and butyrate retained significantly more nitrogen than those fed urea. Steers fed ammonium salts had higher concentration of total VFA and lower pH of the rumen fluid as compared to rumen fluid from steers fed either urea or soybean meal. Molar concentration of the specific VFA, in the rumen fluid was increased by feeding of the organic acid as the ammonium salt. Feeding urea or ammonium salts resulted in a higher level of rumen ammonia as compared to soybean meal. Serum urea levels were significantly lower for animals fed soybean meal as compared to feeding the non-protein nitrogen supplements.

¹ Published with approval of the Director as Paper No. 3020. Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. The Authors express appreciation to Allied Chemical Corporation for financial assistance for this project.