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Effect of Cecal Administration of Corn Starch on Nitrogen Metabolism in Ponies^{1 ,2,}

University of Delaware, Newark 19711

Abstract

Utilization of nitrogen was determined in four mature ponies fed different sources of nitrogen, with or without cecally administered corn starch. The diets used were based on corn gluten meal, casein or urea added to a low protein basal diet. Higher apparent digestibility of protein was observed in ponies fed basal, casein and urea diets with cecally administered corn starch than in ponies not fed starch. Cecal administration of corn starch resulted in a consistent elevation in nitrogen retention. The more positive effect was observed with ponies that received the casein diet (3.5 vs 6.7 g/day); however, the largest change in nitrogen retention was seen in ponies on the urea diet (–7.6 vs –2.4 g/day). Plasma urea nitrogen levels were lower when ponies were provided with corn starch in the cecum. The decrease in urinary nitrogen and improvement in nitrogen retention with ponies that received corn starch intracecally implies cecal and postcecal synthesis of protein by microorganisms. Furthermore, the decrease in circulating amino acids with cecally administered corn starch to ponies fed the basal, corn gluten meal and casein diets supports the hypothesis that protein anabolism occurs in the large intestine.

¹ Approved for publication as Miscellaneous Pub. No. 853 with the approval of the Director, Agr. Exp. Sta. Contribution No. 48 of the Dept. of Animal Science and Agricultural Biochemistry, Univ. of Delaware, Newark.

² Part of this report was presented at the Northeast Section of the ASAS, Amherst, MA, July 23 to 25, 1978.

³ Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Biochemistry.