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- Title
Apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation and nitrogen balance in Tibetan and fine-wool sheep offered forage-concentrate diets differing in nitrogen concentration.
- Authors
ZHOU, J. W.; MI, J. D.; DEGEN, A. A.; GUO, X. S.; WANG, H. C.; DING, L. M.; QIU, Q.; LONG, R. J.
- Abstract
A comparative study of the effect of dietary nitrogen (N) content [Low: 11.0; Medium-Low (MLow): 16.7; Medium- High (Mhigh): 23.1; High: 29.2 N g/kg dry matter (DM)] on apparent digestibilities, rumen fermentation and N balance was conducted in coarse wool Tibetan sheep and Gansu Alpine fine-wool sheep at Wushaoling in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. It was hypothesized that responses would differ between breeds and that responses would favour Tibetan over fine-wool sheep at low N intakes. Eight wethers [four Tibetan sheep and four fine-wool sheep, 20-24 months old; body weight ± standard deviation was 52 ± 3.2 kg] were used in two concurrent 4 x 4 Latin square designs. Dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibilities were higher in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep when fed the Low, MLow and High N diets while N retention was higher when the animals were fed the Low and MLow N diets. Tibetan sheep had a higher rumen pH than fine-wool sheep; however, total volatile fatty acids were similar between breeds. Molar proportions of acetate were higher but propionate and butyrate lower in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep. In addition, Tibetan sheep had higher concentrations of ruminal free amino acid-N and soluble protein-N than fine-wool sheep. Plasma and saliva urea-N concentrations were higher in Tibetan than fine-wool sheep when supplied with the Low N diet. It was concluded that Tibetan sheep were better able to cope with low N feed than fine-wool sheep because of the higher N retention and higher DM and fibre digestibilities with Low and MLow diets.
- Publication
Journal of Agricultural Science, 2015, Vol 153, Issue 6, p1135
- ISSN
0021-8596
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0021859615000465