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Effects of synchronising the hourly release of energy and nitrogen in the rumen on feed intake and production of lactating ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

M.W. Witt
Affiliation:
Harper Adams Agricultural College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
L.A. Sinclair
Affiliation:
Harper Adams Agricultural College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
R.G. Wilkinson
Affiliation:
Harper Adams Agricultural College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
P.J. Buttery
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Dept. ABFS, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leics, LE12 5RD. UK.
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Extract

Ensilage of grass exposes the nitrogenous fractions to extensive degradation resulting in an increase in the rate and extent of release of nitrogen (N) in the rumen. Conversely a large proportion of the fermentable organic matter content of grass silage is cell wall material which undergoes a much slower rate of degradation in the rumen. This results in an asynchrony between N and energy release. Formulation of diets that are synchronous for their hourly N and energy release in the rumen has been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (Sinclair et al., 1995) and increase the growth rate of lambs (Witt et al., 1997). The objectives of the current experiment were to investigate the effects of altering the synchrony of N and energy release in the rumen in diets based on grass silage on intake and performance of lactating ewes.

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Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

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References

Sinclair, L.A., Garnsworthy, P.C., Newbold, J.R. and Buttery, P.J. 1995. Effect of synchronizing the rate of dietary energy and nitrogen release in diets with a similar carbohydrate composition on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in sheep. J. Agric. Sci., Camb. 124. 463472.10.1017/S0021859600073421CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Witt, M. W., Sinclair, L.A., Wilkinson, R.G. and Buttery, P.J. 1997. Effects of synchronising the rate of energy and nitrogen supply to the rumen in diets with two rates of carbohydrate release on growth and metabolism of lambs. Proc. Brit. Soc. Anim. Sci. Google Scholar