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The effect of supplementary nickel on urea metabolism in sheep given a low-protein diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

J.S. Milne ,
F. G. Whitelaw  and
J. Price
J.S. Milne
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
F. G. Whitelaw
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
J. Price
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
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Extract

Rumen bacterial urease is known to be a nickel-dependent enzyme and work in USA has shown that the addition of Ni to ruminant diets can increase the activity of urease in rumen fluid (Spears et al., 1977) and in rumen epithelial tissue (Spears et al., 1979)- In practical feeding trials the addition of 5 ppm Ni has also been shown to increase growth rate and feed conversion efficiency in lambs and steers given high-energy low-protein diets (Spears et al., 1979; Spears, 1984). On the basis of these findings it has been suggested that Ni acts by virtue of its effect on rumen urease activity to enhance the recycling of urea-N to the rumen when dietary N supply is low (Spears, 1980). This hypothesis however does not appear to have been tested by direct measurements of the effect of Ni supplements on urea synthesis and degradation rates in ruminants given low protein diets.

Type
General
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1988 , March 1988 , pp. 81
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1988

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References

A.R.C. (1984). The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Suppl. no. 1. Farnham Royal, Slough: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
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