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Effect of Urea Supplementation on Intake and Utilization of Diets Containing Low Quality Roughages in Sheep^{1, 2,}

American University of Beirut,^,4 Lebanon

Abstract

Four metabolism and nitrogen balance trials were conducted in the first experiment with Awasi wether lambs fed rations containing 50% wheat straw or barley hay, each supplemented with three levels of urea. The urea levels were 0, 1 and 2% of the rations. The two control rations contained soybean meal as the only protein supplement. All rations were approximately equicaloric and iso-nitrogenous. No significant difference in the digestibilities of various nutrients were observed in the urea supplemented rations when compared to their respective controls. However, the crude fiber, energy and ether extract digestibilities tended to increase upon urea supplementation. Nitrogen retention and metabolizable energy values did not differ significantly among the treatments. Blood and ruminal ammonia concentrations increased at each increase in the level of urea in the rations, while rumen pH decreased upon urea supplementation. Blood glucose, and blood and ruminal VFA showed no significant treatment differences. The second experiment involved a 90-day feeding trial, to study the effect of urea supplementation of a low quality roughage-based ration on the performance and carcass quality of growing lambs. Although no significant differences in feed intake, average daily gain and carcass quality were observed in the 1.5% urea supplemented group as compared to soybean meal control, a reduced fed intake and consequently a lower average daily gain was apparent in urea fed group.

¹ Journal No. 383 of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, AUB.

² Appreciation is expressed to W. R. Grace & Co., Maryland, U.S.A. for contributing feed grade urea for the experiment.

³ Present Address: College of Animal Husbandry, Lahore, Pakistan.

⁴ Department of Animal Science.