Effect of feeding Acacia nilotica pods to sheep on nutrient digestibility,nitrogen balance,ruminal protozoa and rumen enzymes activity

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplying two levels of Acacia nilotica (A. nilotica) pods to rations of sheep on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen liquor parameters (pH, total protozoa count, protein concentration and enzymes activity). Twelve mature rams (50 ± 1.25 kg B.W.) were distributed into three groups, each with four rams. Animals in group one were considered as a control which fed a basal diet, consisting of concentrate mixture and Egyptian clover. The second group and the third one received the same basal diet with supplying the concentrate mixture by 1.5% and 3.0% of A. nilotica pods meal respectively. The experiment lasted for 3 weeks. It was found that supplementation of A. nilotica pods to the concentrate mixture at a rate of 1.5% and 3.0% significantly improved the total feed intake compared to the control. The digestibility of dry matter and crude fibre was significantly reduced with A. nilotica supplements, whereas the digestibility of crude protein was significantly improved. All of nitrogen intake and N‐retained were significantly increased in rams fed on concentrates with 1.5% and 3.0% A.  nilotica pods when compared to the control. The pH of ruminal fluid was not affected by the dietary treatments. Nevertheless, the total rumen protozoa count was significantly decreased in A. nilotica pods supplemented groups. Also, the rumen protein concentration and the ruminal enzymes activity, especially α‐amylase, cellulase and protease, were lower in A. nilotica pods supplemented treatments. In conclusions, inclusion of low levels of A. nilotica pods (1.5% and 3.0%) in the concentrates can be used as a natural protein protectant in ruminants by forming tannin protein complexes in the rumen to maximize the amino acids available in the lower digestive tract. Also, these levels can increase the protein digestibility as well as the N‐retained in the body .     

Chemical composition and microstructure of uroliths associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to sheep

The chemical composition and microstructure of five urolith samples (4 bladder stones and one kidney stone) associated with the feeding of high level of cottonseed meal (CSM) diet to Chinese merino fine wool sheep (Junken breed, Xinjiang) were examined by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy analysis. The bladder stone samples appeared yellow or white, small powder and loose mass, and as finely granular under the optical microscope. However, the kidney stone samples from a experimental sheep were found as small brown mass, higher hardness, and as a cracklike structure. Oxygen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found as four major elements in these uroliths by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Potassium magnesium phosphate (MgKPO₄) and potassium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (MgKPO₄·6H₂O) were major components in the bladder stones, while less magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) examined by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analysis. However, the newly found prismatic crystals, which were rich in magnesium and pyrophosphate, were identified as magnesium pyrophosphate (Mg₂P₂O₇) in the kidney stone. The bladder stone samples appeared irregular mass and balls, cracked under SEM with low magnification, while appeared cracked, irregular layer-like, honeycomb-like or tiny balls under high magnification. The kidney stone samples were observed as cone, irregular block or layered crystal structures.     

Chemical composition and microstructure of uroliths associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to sheep

The chemical composition and microstructure of five urolith samples (4 bladder stones and one kidney stone) associated with the feeding of high level of cottonseed meal (CSM) diet to Chinese merino fine wool sheep (Junken breed, Xinjiang) were examined by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy analysis. The bladder stone samples appeared yellow or white, small powder and loose mass, and as finely granular under the optical microscope. However, the kidney stone samples from a experimental sheep were found as small brown mass, higher hardness, and as a cracklike structure. Oxygen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found as four major elements in these uroliths by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Potassium magnesium phosphate (MgKPO₄) and potassium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (MgKPO₄·6H₂O) were major components in the bladder stones, while less magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) examined by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analysis. However, the newly found prismatic crystals, which were rich in magnesium and pyrophosphate, were identified as magnesium pyrophosphate (Mg₂P₂O₇) in the kidney stone. The bladder stone samples appeared irregular mass and balls, cracked under SEM with low magnification, while appeared cracked, irregular layer-like, honeycomb-like or tiny balls under high magnification. The kidney stone samples were observed as cone, irregular block or layered crystal structures.     

Influence of protein degradability in range supplements on abomasal nitrogen flow, nitrogen balance and nutrient digestibility

Two metabolism trials were conducted with yearling steers fed mature native forage to measure the effect of supplemental protein degradability on selected metabolic variables. Supplements contained 40% crude protein equivalence. In Trial 1, four abomasal-cannulated steers weighing 290 to 379 kg were fed supplements containing the following N sources: (1) 15% corn, 85% urea (U); (2) 100% soybean meal (SBM); (3) 10% corn, 40% soybean meal, 50% urea (SBM-U) and (4) 14% corn, 36% blood meal, 50% urea (BM-U). Equal portions of the daily diet (2.2% of body weight) were fed every 2 h. Treatment differences were not significant for organic matter digestibility, abomasal organic matter flow, nonammonia N flow, feed N flow, bacterial N flow and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. There was a positive (P less than .05) relationship between quantity of slowly degraded protein fed and nonammonia N flow (r = .97) or feed N flow (r = .98). Escape N was determined to be 21.5, 16.5 and 54.2% in SBM, SBM-U and BM-U supplements, respectively. In the second trial, no supplement, SBM, SBM-U and BM-U were fed in a N balance trial. Dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were higher (P less than .05) for steers fed supplemented diets. Acid detergent fiber digestibility was higher (P less than .05) for steers supplemented with SBM than steers fed the unsupplemented diets. Nitrogen retention was greater (P less than .05) for cattle fed SBM and BM-U than for cattle fed SBM-U or no supplement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

棉粕和棉籽壳诱发雄性细毛羊尿结石

用棉粕和棉籽壳诱发雄性细毛羊尿结石,研究棉粕和棉籽壳引起雄性细毛羊尿结石的致病因素.测定结石羊血清和尿液的生化指标,观察尿液结晶和泌尿系统组织形态变化,并应用X线能谱分析法、X线衍射分析法、扫描电子显微镜观察法和红外分析光谱法对结石进行微观结构观察和成分分析.结果显示,膀胱结石主要成分为MgKPO4和MgKPO4·6H2O,肾结石主要成分为Mg2P2O7.结果表明,在产棉区,绵羊尿结石是由棉粕和棉籽壳导致的矿物质营养代谢疾病,尿结石的发生与棉粕和棉籽壳中高剂量棉酚和磷、钾、镬代谢有密切关系.     

丙酸钙对西门塔尔牛日粮能量平衡和氮平衡的影响

选用4头体重500kg、年龄3.5岁的中国西门塔尔牛阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,以混合精料和玉米秸秆为基础日粮,研究丙酸钙(0、100、200和300g/d)对日粮能量平衡和氮平衡的影响。结果表明:各处理组采食总能和尿能差异不显著(P>0.05);日粮添加丙酸钙200g/d和300g/d组粪能和气体能有降低趋势(P>0.05),消化能、代谢能和沉积能较对照组均显著提高(P<0.05)。各处理组采食氮和尿氮差异不显著(P>0.05);日粮添加丙酸钙组粪氮显著降低(P<0.05),可消化氮显著提高(P<0.05);200g/d组沉积氮显著高于对照组和100g/d组(P<0.05),高于300g/d组但差异不显著(P>0.05)。根据本试验结果推断日粮中丙酸钙的适宜添加水平为200g/d。     

发酵豆粕对鲁烟白猪回肠养分消化率及氮平衡的影响

试验旨在通过筛选得出乳酸杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、酵母菌的最佳发酵组合,并通过代谢试验获得发酵豆粕对鲁烟白猪回肠消化率及氮平衡的影响。首先通过L16(43)正交设计试验发酵豆粕,从中筛选出最优组合及其最佳比例。选择体重(40±1.25)kg安装回肠末端简单T型瘘管的健康鲁烟白阉公猪5头,分别饲喂普通日粮(Ⅰ)、3%发酵豆粕日粮(Ⅱ)、0.5%乳酸普通日粮(Ⅲ)、0.2%蛋白酶普通日粮(Ⅳ)、0.5%乳酸+0.2%蛋白酶的普通日粮(Ⅴ),采用5×5拉丁方试验设计,比较各组养分消化率、氨基酸回肠末端表观消化率和氮平衡。结果表明,第Ⅱ组的粗蛋白质消化率、粗脂肪消化率最高,显著高于Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组(P0.05)。总氨基酸回肠末端表观消化率第Ⅱ组显著高于第Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组(P0.05)。第Ⅱ组的总氮排出量最低,与Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组相比分别降低了19.26%、30.88%、38.27%、33.42%(P0.05,P0.01)。氮沉积、氮的生物学价值、氮的沉积率第Ⅱ组均显著高于其他各组(P0.05),说明在鲁烟白生长猪日粮中添加发酵豆粕能显著提高养分消化率,但在日粮中添加发酵产物不能达到同样的效果。     

苜蓿草粉饲粮添加纤维素酶对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及养分利用率的影响

本研究的目的是探讨在蛋鸡饲粮中添加不同比例的苜蓿草粉和在高水平苜蓿草粉饲粮中添加纤维素酶对其生产性能、蛋品质及养分利用率的影响。试验选用40周龄健康海兰褐蛋鸡210只,采用单因子完全随机设计,分为7个组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只鸡,分别在饲粮中添加不同比例的苜蓿草粉和纤维素酶,依次为:0(对照组)、3％苜蓿草粉(试验I组)、5％苜蓿草粉(试验II组)、7％苜蓿草粉(试验Ⅲ组)、7％苜蓿草粉+0.1%纤维素酶(试验IV组)、7％苜蓿草粉+0.2%纤维素酶(试验V组)、7％苜蓿草粉+0.3%纤维素酶(试验VI组)。结果表明,1)添加苜蓿草粉和纤维素酶对蛋鸡的产蛋率、蛋重均无显著影响(P＞0.05),但试验Ⅲ组的采食量和试验Ⅴ组的料/蛋比对照组显著下降。2)在饲粮中添加不同水平的苜蓿草粉及纤维素酶后,对蛋黄相对重、蛋壳厚度、蛋黄pH和蛋白pH指标无改进,但高水平苜蓿草粉饲粮中添加纤维素酶提高了蛋重和蛋形指数,尽管和对照组及低用量的苜蓿草粉组相比差异不显著(P＞0.05);各试验组的蛋壳强度、哈夫单位和蛋黄颜色都得到提高,其中试验V组、VI组蛋壳强度较对照组差异显著(P＜0.05),均提高了39％,添加苜蓿草粉后,蛋黄颜色均显著改善(P＜0.05),且随着苜蓿草粉添加量的增加,蛋黄颜色呈上升趋势;高苜蓿草粉饲粮同时添加不同水平纤维素酶组,对蛋黄颜色提高有加强作用。 3)在鸡蛋保存期的7,14,21,28 d,饲粮中添加苜蓿草粉和纤维素酶均能显著降低蛋黄中丙二醛(MDA)含量,从而延长鸡蛋的货架期。4)在饲粮中添加不同水平的苜蓿草粉和纤维素酶,对粗蛋白质、钙和粗纤维的消化率有改进作用,其中试验Ⅴ组较试验Ⅲ组粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、粗纤维、酸性洗涤纤维消化率分别增加了14.79%(P＞0.05),8.48%(P＞0.05),15.91%(P＞0.05)和4.17%(P＞0.05)。总的来说,在蛋鸡饲粮中添加苜蓿草粉后对生产性能、蛋品质无显著影响,但能在一定程度上改善蛋品质,蛋黄颜色得到极显著提高,高水平的苜蓿草粉组添加纤维素酶后,对粗蛋白质、钙和粗纤维的消化率有改进。     

Effect of type of starch and quantity in rations on apparent and true digestibility of nitrogen and nitrogen balance in sheep

In a digestibility trial 5 semisynthetic rations were fed in 3 periods to 10 male sheep to examine the effects on N balance, components of faecal nitrogen and N digestibility. The rations contained constant amounts of nitrogen but different contents of cellulose and two different types of starch (untreated and steamflaked). Content and type of starch did not show any noticeable effect neither on excretion of undigested dietary nitrogen nor on true digestibility. There could not be noticed any effects on the apparent N digestibility by changing contents of cellulose or untreated starch. If the rations contained steamflaked corn starch, the animals excreted more faecal nitrogen and therefore showed a lower apparent N digestibility. Especially the water soluble N fraction of the faecal nitrogen was clearly higher. Compensation took place through a lower N excretion with the urine. The reason for increased faecal N excretion may be higher microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. This was accented by the allantoin excretion with the urine.     

Nutrients intake,digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance of sheep fed different silages with or without concentrate

The experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and millet (Pennisetum americannum) silages with or without concentrate on nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain in Sipli sheep. Six experimental diets were formulated having 100% maize silage (MS), maize silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MSC), 100% sorghum silage (SS), sorghum silage and concentrate as 50:50 (SSC), 100% millet silage (MiS) and millet silage and concentrate as 50:50 (MiSC), respectively. For this purpose, 24 Sipli lambs were randomly allotted to six experimental diets in a completely randomized design for 90 days, four lambs per diet. The results indicated that among various silage diets, lambs fed MS diet consumed higher dry matter (DM) than those fed SS and MiS diets. Likewise, lambs offered MSC had higher dry matter intake than those fed SSC and MiSC diets. Crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) consumed by the lambs also followed the similar trend. Higher DM, CP and NDF digestibilities were also observed in lambs fed MS and MSC diets than those fed SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. Overall digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were higher in experimental diets containing silage with concentrate. Lambs fed MS diet had 2.79 g/day and 4.45 g/day higher N retention than those fed SS and MiS, respectively. Similarly, lambs fed MSC diet had 2.24 g/day and 5.12 g/day higher N retention than those fed SSC and MiSC diets, respectively. The results showed that lambs fed MSC gained more daily weight gain had better feed conversion ratio than those fed MS, SS, SSC, MiS and MiSC diets. The findings of the present study indicated that lambs fed MSC diet had higher nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain.     

Effects of microwave irradiation on ruminal protein degradation and intestinal digestibility of cottonseed meal

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of microwave irradiation on ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and to monitor the fate of true proteins of cottonseed meal (CSM) in the rumen. Duplicate nylon bags of untreated or irradiated CSM (microwave power of 800 W for 2, 4 and 6 min) were suspended in the rumen of four non-lactating Holstein cows for up to 48 h, and resulting data were fitted to non-linear degradation model to calculate degradation parameters of CP. Proteins of untreated and treated CSM bag residues were fractionated by gel electrophoresis. Intestinal digestibility of CP was measured using the mobile nylon bag technique. From in situ results, microwave irradiation decreased (P < 0.05) the water soluble fraction and degradation rate, but increased the potentially degradable fraction of CP. The effective degradability of CP decreased (P < 0.05) as processing period increased. Irradiation for 2 and 4 min increased (P < 0.05) intestinal digestibility of ruminally undegraded CP, but extending to 6 min lowered (P < 0.05) the beneficial effect that 4 min had on intestinal CP digestibility. Electrophoretic results indicated that globulin 9S in untreated CSM (whereas globulin 9S, globulin 5S and albumin 2S in microwave irradiated CSM) make the bulk of escaped protein. Based upon these results, microwave irradiation at a power of 800 W for 4 min had the greatest potential to increase digestible undegraded protein.     

Supplementation of cottonseed meal on feed intake, digestibility, live weight and carcass parameters of Sidama goats

The experiment was conducted at Dilla Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) College in Ethiopia using twenty-four yearling intact male Sidama goats with a mean body weight (BW) of 16.8 ± 1.14 kg (mean ± SD). The objective of the experiment was to examine the effect of different levels of cottonseed meal (CSM) supplementation on the feed intake, digestibility, BW gain, and carcass parameters of Sidama goats. The experiment consisted of 90 days of feeding trial and 10 days of digestibility trial followed by evaluation of carcass parameters at the end of the experiment. The treatments included ad libitum feeding of hay (T1, control) and daily supplementation of CSM at 200 g (T2), 300 g (T3) and 400 g (T4) per head on dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design. The experimental goats were blocked on initial BW and six goats were randomly assigned to each treatment. Hay DM, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake were higher (P < 0.001) in the non-supplemented than in the supplemented goats, however, the contrary was true for total CP intake. Total DM intake was higher (P < 0.001) for goats supplemented with the high level of CSM than those on the control treatment. Among CSM supplemented goats, the intake of CSM DM, CP, NDF (P < 0.001) and total CP (P < 0.01) were higher in the order of T4 > T3 > T2. The high level of supplementation with CSM resulted in better (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility coefficient (DC) of DM and organic matter (OM) compared to the non-supplemented goats. The apparent DC of CP was higher (P < 0.01) for supplemented than non-supplemented goats. The non-supplemented goats had lower daily BW gain, empty BW, dressing percentage on slaughter weight base, rib-eye muscle area (P < 0.01), BW change (P < 0.001), final BW (P < 0.05) and higher feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) than the supplemented ones. The medium level of supplementation resulted in higher daily BW gain (P < 0.01), BW change (P < 0.001), final BW (P < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) than the lower level of supplementation, but with no differences (P > 0.05) in these parameters with the high level of supplementation. Therefore, it is concluded that supplementation of CSM at 300 g DM per head per day resulted in better animal performance parameters in Sidama goats.     

Effects of methionine hydroxy analog on voluntary intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and chewing behavior in sheep fed grass silage

Voluntary intake, digestibility, N balance, and chewing behavior of six 6-mo-old (young) and six 30-mo-old (mature) Texel wethers (32.6 and 83.1 kg average BW) given ad libitum access to grass silage and 100 g of top-dressed soybean meal with or without 5 g of methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) in the acid form were examined according to a two-period crossover design. Supplementation level of MHA in the acid form corresponded to .32 and .16 g of MHA/kg BW.75, respectively, in young and mature wethers. There was no effect (P greater than .10) of MHA on mean voluntary DMI. Methionine hydroxy analog supplementation increased (P less than .02) digestibility of DM, OM, and CP by young wethers but not (P greater than .18) by mature wethers. The MHA decreased eating time (P less than .03) in both young and mature wethers and intake level (P = .01) in young wethers during the first 1.5 h of access to grass silage. With MHA, both age groups increased (P less than .05) the daily number of meals and decreased (P less than .02) the mean duration of each meal. There was no effect (P greater than .06) of MHA on daily and unitary eating, ruminating, and masticating times; however, mean duration of consecutive rumination bolus cycles was longer (7.2%; P = .01) in young wethers. Young vs mature sheep ate more (53.4 vs 39.3 g of DM/[d.kg BW.75]; P less than .001) and had shorter unitary mastication times (P = .001). Results suggest that, depending on its relative level of supplementation, MHA in the acid form could act through both palatability and effects on ruminal metabolism.     

Effect of virginiamycin on in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation and nitrogen balance

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of virginiamycin. Digestibility was determined with wethers, fed a diet of 0.65 maize silage and 0.35 concentrate on a dry matter basis (Experiment I) or a complete dry feed (Experiment II) at maintenance, and with growing bulls fed a maize silage diet ad libitum supplemented with 7.5 g concentrate per kg live weight (Experiment III). Virginiamycin was incorporated at 0 or 65 ppm in the concentrate and 0 or 25 ppm in the complete dry feed. No significant effect on dry or organic matter digestibility was observed, although digestibilities of protein and ether extract were reduced by virginiamycin in experiments I and II, respectively. Rumen fermentation was studied in experiments I and II. Virginiamycin increased acetic acid concentration and reduced butyric acid concentration in experiment I, but exerted no significant effect in experiment II. An interaction between diet type and virginiamycin was found for the C2/C3 ratio. Nitrogen balance, measured in experiment III, was not affected by virginiamycin.     

挤压膨化对血粉消化率的影响

血粉是一种重要的动物性蛋白质资源 ,不仅蛋白质含量很高 ,而且血内含铁量均比其他产品高 ,血每千克含铁量为 30mg ,而肉为 2 6mg(董玉京 ,1 993)。国内、外普遍采用的血粉加工方法有喷雾干燥法、现代蒸煮脱水干燥法和血浆粉生产法 ,这些加工方法生产的血粉不同程度地存在着消化率低、适口性差、营养不平衡问题。近年来 ,人们研究挤压膨化加工工艺生产血粉 ,品质优于传统加工方法生产的产品品质。但有关挤压膨化加工工艺参数对血粉品质影响的研究 ,尚处于起步阶段。我们通过试验 ,探讨挤压膨化加工主要工艺参数———血粉含水率、螺杆转速…     

Effect of feeding of calcium hydroxide-treated or vitamin E-supplemented cottonseed meal on plasma gossypol levels, blood parameters, and performance of Bikaneri lambs

To study the effect of feeding calcium hydroxide-treated or vitamin E-supplemented cottonseed meal (CSM) incorporated diets on plasma gossypol, blood parameters and animal performance, 24 male Bikaneri lambs of 6–7 months of age and of uniform body weight were divided into four groups of six animals each in a completely randomized design and respectively fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric concentrate mixtures containing 20 % soybean meal (CON) or 40 % raw CSM (RCSM), 40 % raw CSM supplemented with 500 IU of vitamin E per head per day (ERCSM), and 40 %, 1.5 % calcium hydroxide-treated CSM (CaCSM) along with ad libitum wheat straw throughout 510 days of experimental feeding. The lambs on all the diets grew linearly throughout the experimental period. The total weight gain, in turn the average daily gain (ADG), was not affected by dietary variations. The daily intake of dry matter, crude protein (CP), digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were found comparable among lambs of all the groups. Though total gossypol intake was similar in RCSM, ECSM and CaCSM groups, however, free gossypol intake was significantly higher (P?<?0.01) in RCSM, ECSM groups as compared to CaCSM group. Serum iron and blood hemoglobin levels were significantly (P?<?0.05) lower in RCSM group as compared to CaCSM and CON groups, and ALT activity was significantly (P?<?0.05) higher on RCSM group as compared to other groups. Plasma gossypol and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes were significantly (P?<?0.05) increased in RCSM group as compared to CaCSM and ERCSM groups. However, there was no significant difference in the concentration of other blood/serum biochemical constituents among the lambs on different groups. Based on the results, it may be concluded that feeding of 40 % CSM in the concentrate mixture of the diet in Bikaneri lambs did not have any major adverse effect in blood parameters and animal performance. Either calcium hydroxide treatment or vitamin E supplementation did not produce any major additional benefits.     

Macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma indicators of protein metabolism and mineral absorption in horses fed a ration rich in sugar beet pulp

In a cross-over study with six mature horses, the effect of iso-energetic replacement of dietary glucose by beet pulp on macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and mineral absorption was studied. The test ration contained 25% beet pulp in the total dietary dry matter. Beet pulp feeding significantly lowered crude fat and non-structural carbohydrate digestibility, but had no significant effect on digestibility of other macronutrients, faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion and the faecal to urinary nitrogen excretion quotient. However, on the beet pulp diet, plasma ammonia and creatinin concentrations were significantly lower than on the glucose diet. No diet effect on magnesium absorption was observed. It is suggested that dietary beet pulp stimulates the conversion of ammonia into urea.