ORIGINAL PAPER
The effect of rumen protozoa on plasma allantoin
level and urinary excretion of purine derivatives
in sheep
1 |
Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University,
Matsue-shi 690-8504, Japan |
2 |
Present address: Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania |
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2003;12(3):499–511
Publication date: 2003-07-15
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
An experiment was carried out to examine the effect of rumen protozoa on feed utilization, nitrogen balance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) in faunated and defaunated lambs fed
a hay and concentrate diets. There was no change in digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and organic
matter (OM) with or without protozoa, however the digestibilities of crude protein and crude fibre
tended to decrease in defaunated lambs, but not significantly (P>0.05). Defaunation decreased nitrogen (N) balance and urinary N excretion. Consequently, retained N was higher (P<0.05) in defaunated than in faunated lambs. Mean plasma allantoin concentration was higher (P<0.05) in defaunated
(41.2 μmol/l) than in faunated lambs (25.5 μmol/l). Total urinary PD excretion and allantoin excretion were higher (P<0.05) in the defaunated than in the faunated lambs.
From the above results, it can be concluded that rumen protozoa have an important role in N utilization, plasma allantoin levels and total PD excretion in lambs.
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
T. Fujihara
Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University,
Matsue-shi 690-8504, Japan
CITATIONS (2):
1. |
Metabolism of microbial nitrogen in ruminants with special reference to nucleic acids Tsutomu FUJIHARA, Martin N. SHEM Animal Science Journal
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2. |
Toshiyoshi ICHINOHE, Mana GOTOU, Tsutomu FUJIHARA Nihon Chikusan Gakkaiho
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