Ruminal ammonia load affects leucine utilization by growing steers

Six ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (initial BW = 189 +/- 11 kg) housed in metabolism crates were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square to study effects of ruminal ammonia load on Leu utilization. All steers received a diet based on soybean hulls (2.7 kg of DM/d), ruminal infusions of 200 g of acetate/d, 200 g of propionate/d, and 50 g of butyrate/d, as well as an abomasal infusion of 300 g of glucose/d to provide energy without increasing microbial protein supply and an abomasal infusion of a mixture (238 g/d) of all essential AA except Leu. Treatments were arranged as a 3 x 2 factorial and included Leu (0, 4, or 8 g/d) infused abomasally and urea (0 or 80 g/d) infused ruminally. Abomasal Leu infusion linearly decreased (P < 0.05) both urinary and fecal N excretions and linearly increased (P < 0.05) retained N, but the decreases in urinary N excretion in response to Leu tended (P = 0.07) to be greater, and the increases in retained N in response to Leu were numerically greater in the presence of the urea infusion. Although urea infusions increased (P < 0.05) plasma urea concentrations, urinary N excretions, and urinary urea excretions, retained N also was increased (P < 0.05). The efficiency of deposition of supplemental Leu ranged from 24 to 43% when steers received 0 or 80 g of urea/d, respectively. Under our experimental conditions, increasing ammonia load improved whole-body protein deposition in growing steers when Leu supply was limiting.     

Excess amino acid supply improves methionine and leucine utilization by growing steers

In 2 experiments, 6 ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (205 +/- 23 and 161 +/- 14 kg initial BW in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively) housed in metabolism crates were used in 6 x 6 Latin squares to study the effects of excess AA supply on Met (Exp. 1) and Leu (Exp. 2) use. All steers received a diet based on soybean hulls (DMI = 2.66 and 2.45 kg/d in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively); ruminal infusions of 200 g of acetate/d, 200 g of propionate/d, and 50 g of butyrate/d, as well as abomasal infusion of 300 g of glucose/d to provide energy without increasing the microbial protein supply; and abomasal infusions of a mixture of all essential AA except Met (Exp. 1) or Leu (Exp. 2). Periods were 6 d, with 2-d adaptations and 4 d to collect N balance data. All treatments were abomasally infused. In Exp. 1, treatments were arranged as a 2 x 3 factorial, with 2 amounts of l-Met (0 or 4 g/d) and 3 AA supplements (no additional AA, control; 100 g/d of nonessential AA + 100 g/d of essential AA, NEAA + EAA; and 200 g/d of essential AA, EAA). Supplemental Met increased (P < 0.01) retained N and decreased (P < 0.01) urinary N and urinary urea N. Retained N increased (P < 0.01) with NEAA + EAA only when 4 g/d of Met was provided, but it increased (P < 0.01) with EAA with or without supplemental Met. Both AA treatments increased (P < 0.01) plasma urea and serum insulin. Plasma glucose decreased (P = 0.03) with supplemental Met. In Exp. 2, treatments were arranged as a 2 x 3 factorial with 2 amounts of L-Leu (0 or 4 g/d) and 3 AA supplements (control, NEAA + EAA, and EAA). Supplemental Leu increased (P < 0.01) retained N and decreased (P < 0.01) urinary N and urinary urea N. Both AA treatments increased (P < 0.01) retained N, and they also increased (P < 0.01) urinary N, urinary urea N, and plasma urea. Serum insulin increased (P = 0.06) with supplemental Leu and tended (P = 0.10) to increase with both AA treatments. Supplementation with excess AA improved Met and Leu use for protein deposition by growing cattle.     

Histidine utilization by growing steers is not negatively affected by increased supply of either ammonia or amino acids

Two experiments were conducted with ruminally cannulated Holstein steers to determine effects of N supply on histidine (His) utilization. All steers received 2.5 kg DM/d of a diet based on soybean hulls; abomasal infusion of 250 g/d amino acids, which supplied adequate amounts of all essential amino acids except His; abomasal infusion of 300 g/d glucose; and ruminal infusion of 180 g/d acetate, 180 g/d propionate, and 45 g/d butyrate. Both experiments were 6 x 6 Latin squares with treatments arranged as 3 x 2 factorials. No significant (P < 0.05) interactions between main effects were noted for N balance criteria in either Exp. 1 or 2. For Exp. 1, steers (146 +/- 7 kg) received 0, 1.5, or 3 g/d of L-His infused abomasally in combination with 0 or 80 g/d urea infused ruminally to supply a metabolic ammonia load. Urea infusions increased (P < 0.05) ruminal ammonia concentration from 8.6 to 19.7 mM and plasma urea from 2.7 to 5.1 mM. No change in N retention occurred in response to urea (35.1 and 37.1 g/d for 0 and 80 g/d urea, respectively, P = 0.16). Retained N increased linearly (P < 0.01) with His (31.5, 37.8, and 39.0 g/d for 0, 1.5, and 3 g/d L-His, respectively). Efficiency of deposition of supplemental His between 0 and 1.5 g/d averaged 65%. In Exp. 2, steers (150 +/- 6 kg) were infused abomasally with 0 or 1 g/d of L-His in combination with no additional amino acids (Control), 100 g/d of essential + 100 g/d of nonessential amino acids (NEAA+EAA), or 200 g/d of essential amino acids (EAA). Retained N increased (P = 0.02) from 34.2 to 38.3 g/d in response to His supplementation. Supplementation with NEAA+EAA increased (P < 0.05) N retention (33.9, 39.3, and 35.6 g/d for Control, NEAA+EAA, and EAA, respectively), likely in response to increased energy supply. Plasma urea concentrations of steers receiving NEAA+EAA (3.8 mM) and EAA (3.8 mM) were greater (P < 0.05) than those of Control steers (2.7 mM). The average efficiency of His utilization was 63%, a value similar to the value of 65% observed in Exp. 1, as well as the 71% value predicted by the Cornell net carbohydrate and protein system model. Under our experimental conditions, increases in N supply above requirements, as either ammonia or amino acids, did not demonstrate a metabolic cost in terms of His utilization for whole-body protein deposition by growing steers.     

Effects of energy level on methionine utilization by growing steers

We evaluated the effect of energy supplementation on Met use in growing steers. Six ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (228 +/- 8 kg of BW) were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square and fed 2.8 kg of DM/d of a diet based on soybean hulls. Treatments were abomasal infusion of 2 amounts of Met (0 or 3 g/d) and supplementation with 3 amounts of energy (0, 1.3, or 2.6 Mcal of GE/d) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. The 1.3 Mcal/d treatment was supplied through ruminal infusion of 90 g/d of acetate, 90 g/d of propionate, and 30 g/d of butyrate, and abomasal infusion of 30 g/d of glucose and 30 g/d of fat. The 2.6 Mcal/d treatment supplied twice these amounts. All steers received basal infusions of 400 g/d of acetate into the rumen and a mixture (125 g/d) containing all essential AA except Met into the abomasum. No interactions between Met and energy levels were observed. Nitrogen balance was increased (P < 0.05) by Met supplementation from 23.6 to 27.8 g/d, indicating that protein deposition was limited by Met. Nitrogen retention increased linearly (P < 0.05) from 23.6 to 27.7 g/d with increased energy supply. Increased energy supply also linearly reduced (P < 0.05) urinary N excretion from 44.6 to 39.7 g/d and reduced plasma urea concentrations from 2.8 to 2.1 mM. Total tract apparent OM and NDF digestibilities were reduced linearly (P < 0.05) by energy supplementation, from 78.2 and 78.7% to 74.3 and 74.5%, respectively. Whole-body protein synthesis and degradation were not affected significantly by energy supplementation. Energy supplementation linearly increased (P < 0.05) serum IGF-I from 694 to 818 ng/mL and quadratically increased (P < 0.05) serum insulin (0.38, 0.47, and 0.42 ng/mL for 0, 1.3, and 2.6 Mcal/d, respectively). In growing steers, N retention was improved by energy supplementation, even when Met limited protein deposition, suggesting that energy supplementation affects the efficiency of AA use.     

Effects of energy source on methionine utilization by growing steers

We evaluated the effects of different supplemental energy sources on Met use in growing steers. Ruminally cannulated Holstein steers were used in two 6 x 6 Latin squares, and data were pooled for analyses. In Exp. 1, steers (148 kg) were fed 2.3 kg of DM/d of a diet based on soybean hulls. Treatments (2 x 3 factorial) were abomasal infusion of 0 or 3 g of l-Met/d, and supplementation with no energy or with glucose (360 g/d) or fat (150 g/d) continuously infused into the abomasum. In Exp. 2, steers (190 kg) received 2.6 kg of dietary DM/d and were provided (2 x 3 factorial) with 0 or 3 g of l-Met/d, and with no supplemental energy or with acetate (385 g/d) or propionate (270 g/ d) continuously infused into the rumen. In both experiments, the energy sources supplied 1.3 Mcal of GE/d, and all steers received basal infusions of 400 g of acetate/d into the rumen and a mixture (125 g/d) of all essential AA except Met into the abomasum. Nitrogen balance (18.8 vs. 23.5 g/d; P < 0.01) and whole-body protein synthesis (2.1 vs. 2.3 kg/d; P < 0.07) were increased by Met supplementation, indicating that protein deposition was limited by Met. Supplemental energy reduced (P < 0.01) urinary N excretion and increased (P < 0.01) N retention without differences among energy sources. Increases in N retention in response to Met were numerically greater when energy was supplemented. Efficiency of supplemental Met use was 11% when no energy was supplemented but averaged 21% when 1.3 Mcal of GE/d was provided. Whole-body protein synthesis and degradation were not affected by energy supplementation. Serum insulin concentrations were increased by glucose and propionate supplementation. Serum IGF-I concentrations were increased by supplementation with Met or glucogenic sources of energy. In growing steers, N retention was increased by energy supplementation even though protein deposition was limited by Met, suggesting that energy supplementation improves the efficiency of AA use. These responses were independent of the source of energy.     

Effects of energy supply on leucine utilization by growing steers at two body weights

The effects of energy supplementation on Leu utilization in growing steers were evaluated in 2 experiments by using 6 ruminally cannulated Holstein steers. In Exp. 1, steers (initial BW = 150 +/- 7 kg) were limit-fed (2.3 kg of DM/d) a diet based on soybean hulls and received a basal ruminal infusion of 100 g of acetate/d, 75 g of propionate/d, and 75 g of butyrate/d, as well as abomasal infusions of 200 g of glucose/d and a mixture (215 g/d) containing all essential AA except Leu. Treatments were arranged as a 3 x 2 factorial, with 3 amounts of Leu infused abomasally (0, 4, and 8 g/d) and supplementation of diets with 2 amounts of energy (0 and 1.9 Mcal/d of GE). Supplemental energy was supplied by ruminal infusion of 100 g of acetate/ d, 75 g of propionate/d, and 75 g of butyrate/d, as well as abomasal infusion of 200 g of glucose/d to provide energy to the animal without affecting the microbial protein supply. When no supplemental energy was provided, Leu supplementation increased N balance, with no difference between 4 and 8 g/d of Leu (24.5, 27.0, and 27.3 g/d for 0, 4, and 8 g/d of Leu), but when additional energy was supplied, N retention increased linearly in response to Leu (25.6, 28.5, and 31.6 g/d for 0, 4, and 8 g/d of Leu; Leu x energy interaction, P = 0.06). The changes in N balance were the result of changes in urinary N excretion. The greater Leu retentions in response to energy supplementation when Leu was the most limiting nutrient indicate that energy supplementation improved the true efficiency of Leu utilization. In addition, supplemental energy increased the gross efficiency of Leu utilization when the Leu supply was not limiting by increasing the maximal rates of protein deposition. Experiment 2 was similar to Exp. 1, but steers had an initial BW of 275 +/- 12 kg and were limit-fed at 3.6 kg of DM/d. Retention of N was not affected (P = 0.22) by Leu supplementation, indicating that Leu did not limit protein deposition. Energy supply increased N retention (P < 0.01) independently of Leu supplementation (33.0 vs. 27.8 g/d). Overall, energy supplementation improved Leu utilization by modestly increasing N retention when Leu was limiting and by increasing the ability of steers to respond to the greatest amount of supplemental Leu. We conclude from these results that the assumption of a constant efficiency of AA utilization is unlikely to be appropriate for growing steers.     

Sulfur-containing amino acid requirement of rapidly growing steers

Eight ruminally cannulated steers (294 kg, ADG = 1.3 kg/d) were used in a N retention study (8 x 8 latin-square design) to evaluate sulfur-containing (S) amino acid (AA) requirements for growth. Treatments were abomasal infusions of seven levels of L-methionine (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 g/d) and one level of DL-methionine (6 g/d). All steers were fed a semipurified diet based on ammoniated corn cobs (DMI = 6.56 kg/d) and were abomasally infused with 400 g/d dextrose and 296.4 g/d of crystalline AA that simulated the non-S-AA pattern of casein. Infusion of 3 g/d supplemental L-methionine maximized N retention in steers. Intestinal flows of absorbable S-AA were determined to be 1.89 g/kg DMI. Breakpoint analysis of retained N as a function of total absorbable S-AA yielded a total S-AA requirement of 14.7 g/d. Nitrogen retention for DL-methionine (36.4 g/d) was not different (P greater than .05) from that for 6 g/d L-methionine (38.8 g/d), but because this value was not in the linear response range, the efficacy of DL-methionine in meeting S-AA needs could not be evaluated. Plasma methionine concentrations increased linearly (P less than .05) in response to L-methionine infusion and were greater (P less than .05) for steers infused with 6 g/d DL-methionine (45.3 microM) than for steers receiving 6 g/d L-methionine (30.5 microM). Plasma cystine increased when up to 9 g/d L-methionine was infused.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ruminal casein and glucose on forage digestion and urea kinetics in beef cattle

Effects of supplemental glucose and degradable intake protein on nutrient digestion and urea kinetics in steers (Bos taurus) given ad libitum access to prairie hay (4.7% CP) were quantified. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers (initial BW 391 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square with 2 extra steers. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial and included 0 or 1.2 kg of glucose and 240 or 480 g of casein dosed ruminally once daily. Each period included 9 d for adaptation, 4 d for total fecal and urine collections, and 1 d for ruminal and duodenal sampling. Jugular infusion of (15)N(15)N-urea with measurement of enrichment in urine was used to measure urea kinetics. Glucose reduced forage intake by 18% (P < 0.01), but casein did not affect forage intake (P = 0.69). Glucose depressed (P < 0.01) total tract NDF digestion. Glucose supplementation decreased ruminal pH 2 h after dosing, but the effect was negligible by 6 h (treatment × time; P = 0.01). Providing additional casein increased the ruminal concentration of NH(3), but the increase was less when glucose was supplemented (casein × glucose; P < 0.01). Plasma urea-N was increased (P < 0.01) by additional casein but was reduced (P < 0.01) by glucose. Microbial N flow to the duodenum and retained N increased (P ≤ 0.01) as casein increased, but neither was affected by glucose supplementation. Urea-N entry rate increased (P = 0.03) 50% with increasing casein. Urinary urea-N excretion increased (P < 0.01) as casein increased. The proportion of urea production that was recycled to the gut decreased (P < 0.01) as casein increased. Glucose supplementation decreased (P < 0.01) urinary urea excretion but did not change (P ≥ 0.70) urea production or recycling. The amount of urea-N transferred to the gut and captured by ruminal microbes was less for steers receiving 480 g/d casein with no glucose than for the other 3 treatments (casein × glucose interaction, P = 0.05), which can be attributed to an excess of ruminally available N provided directly to the microbes from the supplement. Overall, the provision of supplemental glucose decreased forage intake and digestibility. Increasing supplemental casein from 240 to 480 g/d increased urea production but decreased the proportion of urea-N recycled to the gut.     

Nitrogen balance in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet and infused with differing proportions of casein in the rumen and abomasum

Twenty-five wether lambs (34 +/- 0.9 kg) fitted with ruminal and abomasal infusion catheters were used in a completely randomized design to determine the effects of differing proportions of ruminal and abomasal casein infusion on N balance in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet (85% corn grain, 1.6% N; DM basis) for ad libitum intake. Wethers were infused with 0 (control) or 10.4 g/d of N from casein with ruminal:abomasal infusion ratios of 100:0, 67:33, 33:67, or 0:100% over a 14-d period. Feed, orts, feces, and urine were collected over the last 5 d. Total N intake and excretion were greater (P < 0.01) in lambs infused with casein than in controls; however, N retention did not differ in lambs infused with casein compared with controls, suggesting that N requirements were met without casein supplementation. Total N intake and total N excretion did not differ among casein infusion treatments. Urinary N excretion decreased linearly (P = 0.07) with decreasing ruminal infusion of casein. Site of casein infusion quadratically (P = 0.06) influenced N retained (g/d), with the greatest retention observed in the 33:67 ruminal:abomasal infusion treatment. Dry matter intake from feed decreased from 1,183 to 945 g/d (P = 0.02) in lambs infused with casein compared with controls, but apparently digested DM did not differ among treatments. These data indicate that decreasing the ruminal degradability of supplemental protein above that required to maximize N retention results in decreased urinary excretion of N without greatly affecting apparent diet digestion.     

Nitrogen metabolism of beef steers fed endophyte-free tall fescue hay: effects of ruminally protected methionine supplementation

Level of nitrogen (N) intake and ruminally protected methionine supplementation were evaluated in eight Angus growing steers (initial BW 253+/-21 kg, final BW 296+/-21 kg) in a replicated 4+/-4 Latin square design. The steers were fed two endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) hays that contained 2.2 (LO) or 2.8% (HI) of DM as N and were either supplemented or not with ruminally protected methionine (10 g metabolizable methionine/d). Diets were fed to provide adequate energy for 0.5 kg ADG and sufficient protein for maintenance (LO), or protein to support 0.5 kg ADG (HI). Following at least 14 d of adjustment, N balance was measured for 6 d. Isotopic urea was infused (15N15N-urea, 0.164 mmol urea N/h) via a jugular catheter for 56 h and urine was collected from 48 to 56 h to measure urea kinetics. Jugular blood was collected during the balance trial, and serum was analyzed for serum urea N (SUN). By design, daily N intake was greater (P < 0.05) for HI (112 g) than for LO (89 g). Compared with LO, steers when fed HI had greater (P < 0.05) daily DMI (4,217 vs 4,151 g), fecal N (34.4 vs 31.2 g), N digested (77.1 vs 57.7 g), urine N (48.3 vs 37.5 g), urine urea N excretion (34.6 vs 24.8 g), and N retained (29.8 vs 21.1 g). When fed HI steers also had higher (P < 0.05) urine urea N concentration (276 vs 219 mM), SUN (8.7 vs 6.7 mM), N digestibility (69.1 vs 64.9%), percentage of urinary N present as urea (71.5 vs 66.7%, P < 0.053), and rate of urea N production (59.6 vs 49.2 g/d) but lower (P < 0.05) percentage of urea N produced that was returned to the ornithine cycle (15.03 vs 19.2 1%) than when fed LO. Methionine supplementation decreased daily urine N (41.2 vs 44.6 g, P = 0.10) and increased both the amount of N retained daily (27.9 vs 23.7 g, P < 0.089) and the percentage of N digested that was retained (40.4 vs 34.6%, P < 0.094). In summary, supplemental methionine met a specific dietary limitation by increasing the amount of digested N that was retained by the steers.     

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on nitrogen retention and methionine flux in cattle

Creatine stores high-energy phosphate bonds in muscle and is synthesized in the liver through methylation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA). Supplementation of GAA may therefore increase methyl group requirements, and this may affect methyl group utilization. Our experiment evaluated the metabolic responses of growing cattle to postruminal supplementation of GAA, in a model where methionine (Met) was deficient, with and without Met supplementation. Seven ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (161 kg initial body weight [BW]) were limit-fed a soybean hull-based diet (2.7 kg/d dry matter) and received continuous abomasal infusions of an essential amino acid (AA) mixture devoid of Met to ensure that no AA besides Met limited animal performance. To provide energy without increasing the microbial protein supply, all steers received ruminal infusions of 200 g/d acetic acid, 200 g/d propionic acid, and 50 g/d butyric acid, as well as abomasal infusions of 300 g/d glucose. Treatments, provided abomasally, were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial in a split-plot design, and included 0 or 6 g/d of l-Met and 0, 7.5, and 15 g/d of GAA. The experiment included six 10-d periods. Whole body Met flux was measured using continuous jugular infusion of 1-¹³C-l-Met and methyl-²H₃-l-Met. Nitrogen retention was elevated by Met supplementation (P < 0.01). Supplementation with GAA tended to increase N retention when it was supplemented along with Met, but not when it was supplemented without Met. Supplementing GAA linearly increased plasma concentrations of GAA and creatine (P < 0.001), but treatments did not affect urinary excretion of GAA, creatine, or creatinine. Supplementation with Met decreased plasma homocysteine (P < 0.01). Supplementation of GAA tended (P = 0.10) to increase plasma homocysteine when no Met was supplemented, but not when 6 g/d Met was provided. Protein synthesis and protein degradation were both increased by GAA supplementation when no Met was supplemented, but decreased by GAA supplementation when 6 g/d Met were provided. Loss of Met through transsulfuration was increased by Met supplementation, whereas synthesis of Met from remethylation of homocysteine was decreased by Met supplementation. No differences in transmethylation, transsulfuration, or remethylation reactions were observed in response to GAA supplementation. The administration of GAA, when methyl groups are not limiting, has the potential to improve lean tissue deposition and cattle growth.     

Effect of ruminal vs postruminal administration of degradable protein on utilization of low-quality forage by beef steers

An experiment was designed to determine the effects of ruminal and postruminal infusions of ruminally degradable protein (casein) on intake and digestion of low-quality hay by beef steers. Twelve ruminally fistulated Angus x Hereford steers (initial BW = 563 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to one of three treatments: control (C; hay only) or hay plus ruminal (R) or postruminal (P) infusion of 400 g/d of sodium caseinate. The trial consisted of five periods: 1) 10-d adaptation to the hay diet; 2) 7-d measurement of hay intake (without infusions); 3) 10-d adaptation to protein infusion treatments (intake measurements continued); 4) 7-d measurement of hay intake and digestibility (infusions continued); and 5) 3-d ruminal sampling period (infusions continued). Steers were given ad libitum access to tallgrass-prairie hay (3.4% CP, 76.6% NDF) throughout the study. Casein was administered once daily before feeding, either directly into the rumen or via anchored infusion lines into the abomasum. Hay intake was increased by supplementation (P < 0.01). Ruminal infusion elicited a greater (P = 0.04) increase in hay intake than postruminal infusion. Intake tended (P = 0.11) to be lower in period 4 than in period 2 for control steers but was greater in period 4 than in period 2 (P < or = 0.03) for both R and P steers. The increase in intake between periods 2 and 4 was greater for R than for P steers (P = 0.03). Supplementation improved diet OM digestion (P = 0.04) but not NDF digestion (P = 0.18); however, greater relative error for NDF digestion may have limited the ability to elucidate significant treatment effects. There were no differences in either OM digestion (P = 0.42) or NDF digestion (P = 0.35) between R and P steers. Plasma urea N at 0 and 3 h after feeding on the last day of the experiment was lower (P = 0.05) for C than for R and P steers, but no difference (P = 0.48) was evident between R and P steers. Ruminal ammonia N levels also were increased by supplementation (P < 0.01), with a much larger increase for R than for P steers (P < 0.01). Total VFA concentrations were not affected (P = 0.21) by treatment, but R steers exhibited lower proportions of acetate and higher proportions of isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate than P steers (P < 0.01). In conclusion, ruminal and postruminal infusion of a degradable protein source improved forage utilization, although the response in forage OM intake and total digestible OM intake was greater for ruminal infusion than for postruminal infusion.     

The effect of abomasal methionine supplementation on nitrogen retention of growing steers postruminally infused with casein or nonsulfur-containing amino acids

An experiment was conducted to develop a system useful for measuring methionine requirements of growing steers. Seven ruminally cannulated steers (312 kg, gaining .91 kg/d) were fed a diet based on ammoniated corn cobs, corn starch, molasses and urea. Quantities of N and sulfur-containing amino acids disappearing from the small intestine were 96.0 and 14.8 g/d, respectively. Postruminal infusions of Na-caseinate (CAS) resulted in linear (P less than .01) increases in N retention with values increasing from 30.1 g/d with no postruminal CAS infusion to 39.3, 50.8 and 59.2 g/d (averaged across methionine supplementation) when 100, 200 and 300 g/d CAS were infused. Postruminal infusions of a mixture of crystalline L-amino acids (simulating the nonsulfur-containing essential amino acid pattern of casein; SIM) at levels of 100, 200 and 300 g/d also led to linear increases (P less than .01) in N retention with steers retaining 30.9, 38.9 and 50.5 g N/d (averaged across methionine supplementation), respectively. Postruminal infusion of 12 g/d L-methionine across CAS and SIM infusions improved (P less than .01) N retention by 7.6 g/d but infusion of SIM, which is devoid of sulfur amino acids, also increased N retention. Responses to methionine supplementation was greatest when 200 or 300 g/d SIM were abomasally infused. The data are interpreted to demonstrate that, for steers fed a diet containing little true protein, postruminal supplementation with nonsulfur-containing amino acids tended to increase the ability of growing steers to respond to methionine supplementation.     

The net portal and hepatic flux of metabolites and oxygen consumption in growing beef steers given postruminal casein

Changes in net portal and hepatic nutrient flux and oxygen consumption in response to 3-d abomasal casein infusions were studied in seven multicatheterized beef steers. Steers were fed 4.3 kg DM/d of a high-concentrate diet in 12 equal meals. Blood flow (para-aminohippurate dilution) and net flux (venoarterial concentration difference x blood flow) across portal-drained viscera (PDV) and hepatic tissues were measured on d 3 of the abomasal infusions. In two experiments, the response to 300 (300C) and 150 (150C) g casein/d were compared, respectively, to a control water infusion. The 300C increased (P less than .05) arterial blood concentrations of alpha-amino N (AAN), urea N and ammonia; 150C increased (P less than .05) arterial urea N. Urinary urea N excretion was increased (P less than .01) by 300C and 150C. Although 300C increased net PDV release of AAN (P less than .07) and alanine (P less than .10), there was no net change in total splanchnic (TSP) flux due to an increased net hepatic uptake of AAN (P less than .01) and alanine (P less than .05). Net PDV glucose flux was decreased (P less than .05) by 300C, but net hepatic glucose flux was not affected by either level of casein. The 150C increased TSP oxygen consumption (P less than .05) and hepatic oxygen extraction (P less than .10). Approximately 26 and 30% of the casein N infused abomasally appeared in the portal blood as AAN for 150C and 300C, respectively. The sum of net PDV ammonia and AAN fluxes accounted for 47 and 88% of the N infused for 150C and 300C, respectively. These data emphasize the importance of intestinal and liver tissues in regulating the flux of nitrogenous compounds absorbed from the diet.     

Effects of slow-release urea on ruminal digesta characteristics and growth performance in beef steers

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of slow-release urea (SRU) versus feed-grade urea on ruminal metabolite characteristics in steers and DMI, gain, and G:F in growing beef steers. Experiment 1 used 12 ruminally cannulated steers (529 +/- 16 kg of BW) to monitor the behavior of SRU in the ruminal environment. Compared with feed-grade urea, SRU decreased ruminal ammonia concentration (P = 0.02) and tended to increase ruminal urease activity (P = 0.06) without affecting ruminal VFA molar proportions or total concentrations (P > 0.20). After 35 d of feeding, the in situ degradation rate of SRU was not different between animals fed urea or SRU (P = 0.48). Experiment 2 used 180 Angus-cross steers (330 +/- 2.3 kg) fed corn silage-based diets supplemented with urea or SRU for 56 d to evaluate the effects on feed intake, gain, and G:F. The design was a randomized complete block with a 2 x 4 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments included no supplemental urea (control) or urea or SRU at 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, or 1.6% of diet DM. Over the entire 56 d experiment, there were interactions of urea source x concentration for gain (P = 0.04) and G:F (P = 0.01) because SRU reduced ADG and G:F at the 0.4 and 1.6% supplementation concentrations but was equivalent to urea at the 0.8 and 1.2% supplementation concentrations; these effects were due to urea source x concentration interactions for gain (P = 0.06) and G:F (P = 0.05) during d 29 to 56 of the experiment. The SRU reduced DMI during d 29 to 56 (P = 0.01) but not during d 0 to 28, so that over the entire experiment there was no difference in DMI for urea source (P = 0.19). These collective results demonstrate that SRU releases N slowly in the rumen with no apparent adaptation within 35 d. Supplementation of SRU may limit N availability at low (0.4%) concentrations but is equivalent to urea at 0.8 and 1.2% concentrations.     

Nitrogen metabolism and somatotropin secretion in beef heifers receiving abomasal arginine infusions

Twelve Angus x Hereford heifer calves (233 kg) were fitted with abomasal infusion cannulas and used to study N and endocrine responses to abomasally infused arginine (Arg). Heifers were allotted randomly to three treatment groups and received continuous abomasal infusions (2 liters/d) of water (CON) or Arg solutions providing .33 g Arg.HCl/kg BW (LOW) or .50 g Arg.HCl/kg BW (HIGH) each day. A 12-d dietary adjustment period preceded a 7-d infusion and collection period. Each calf received 4,544 g DM/d of a basal diet in equal portions at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400. Calves were housed in individual metabolism crates and fitted with urinary bladder catheters for total excreta collection. On d 1 and 5, blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 8 h between 1200 and 2000. Single samples were obtained at 1400 on remaining days. The infusion of Arg increased the quantity of N retained by heifers (P less than .01) and the percentage of total N retained (P less than .10); however, no differences were observed between LOW and HIGH heifers. Increased (P less than .01) urinary N excretion by Arg heifers was associated with greater (P less than .05) quantities of urinary urea N and ammonia N. Blood urea N and serum Arg concentrations were highest (P less than .05) in Arg heifers, whereas total serum AA concentrations were lower (P less than .05) in Arg heifers than in CON heifers. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment. Characterization of somatotropin (STH) profiles revealed that amplitude and frequency of STH pulses were not affected (P greater than .10) by treatment, whereas mean (P less than .10) and basal (P less than .05) STH concentrations were elevated in HIGH compared to LOW heifers on d 1 and 5. The similar N retention responses of LOW and HIGH heifers and similar STH profiles of CON and LOW heifers suggest that the stimulatory effect of the HIGH dose on STH secretion occurred only after tissue N requirements had been satisfied.     

Branched-chain amino acids for growing cattle limit-fed soybean hull-based diets.

Five ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (176 kg) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square to evaluate the effects of branched-chain AA supplementation on N retention and plasma AA concentrations of steers. Steers were limit-fed (3.0 kg/d of DM) twice daily diets low in ruminally undegradable protein (72% soybean hulls, 19% alfalfa, 5% molasses, and 4% vitamins and minerals). Acetate (400 g/d) was continuously infused into the rumen. Treatments were continuous abomasal infusions of 1) 115 g/d of a mixture of 10 essential AA designed to exceed the steers' requirements (10AA), 2) 10AA with Leu removed, 3) 10AA with Ile removed, 4) 10AA with Val removed, and 5) 10AA with all three branched-chain AA removed. Experimental periods were 7 d, with 3 d for adaptation to treatments and 4 d for total fecal and urinary collections for N balance. Blood samples were collected 5 h after feeding on d 7. Retained N decreased in response to removal of Leu (P < 0.06), Val (P < 0.05), or all three branched-chain AA (P < 0.05). Plasma Leu concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) in response to removal of Leu and all three branched-chain AA. Plasma Ile concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) in response to removal of Ile and all three branched-chain AA but increased (P < 0.05) in response to removal of Leu. Plasma Val concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) in response to removal of Val and all three branched-chain AA but increased (P < 0.05) in response to removal of Leu. Responses in N balance and plasma AA concentrations of growing cattle limit-fed soybean hull-based diets demonstrate limitations in the basal supply of Leu and Val but not Ile provided that supplies of all other essential AA are met.     

Net absorption and utilization of nitrogenous compounds across ruminal, intestinal, and hepatic tissues of growing beef steers fed dry-rolled or steam-flaked sorghum grain

Our objectives were to determine effects of grain processing on splanchnic (gut tissues and liver) N metabolism and whole-body N balance by growing steers and to ascertain the relative contributions of ruminal and intestinal tissues to net absorption and utilization of N-containing nutrients. Seven beef steers (348 kg initial BW), surgically implanted with appropriate catheters, were fed diets containing 77% steam-flaked (SF) or dry-rolled (DR) sorghum grain. Blood flows and net output or uptake of ammonia N, urea N, and alpha-amino N (estimate of amino acids) were measured across portal-drained viscera (PDV or gut tissues) and intestinal, ruminal, hepatic, and splanchnic tissues (PDV + hepatic). The experimental design was a crossover between DR and SF diets, with six samplings of blood at 2-h intervals on 2 d for each steer. Nitrogen intake (139 +/- 3 g/d), output in urine (43 +/- 2 g/d), and retention (40 +/- 3 g/d) were similar for both processing treatments. When steers were fed SF sorghum compared to DR sorghum, N retention as a percentage of N intake was numerically greater (P < 0.12), output of fecal N was numerically lower (P < 0.13), and urinary urea N was lower (P < 0.04). For SF vs DR, net uptake of alpha-amino N by liver was higher (P < 0.04; 20 vs 9 g/d) and was numerically lower (P < 0.16) for ruminal tissues (15 vs 33 g/d). Feeding steers SF compared to DR tended to increase net transfer (cycling) of blood urea N to PDV (57 vs 41 g/d; P < 0.07), increased cycling to intestinal tissues (15 vs 6 g/d; P < 0.05), and numerically increased transfer to ruminal tissues (42 vs 32 g/d; P < 0.12) but did not alter other net output or uptake of N across splanchnic tissues. Total urea N transfer (blood + saliva) was similar for both treatments. Net uptake of alpha-amino N by ruminal tissues was about 30% of the net amount of alpha-amino N absorbed across the intestinal tissues. In summary, most of the blood urea N cycled from the liver to gut tissues was transferred to ruminal tissues for potential microbial protein synthesis, and the net ruminal utilization of alpha-amino N was about 30% of that absorbed from intestinal tissues. Feeding growing steers SF compared to DR sorghum diets numerically increased whole-body N retention (percentage of N intake) by about 15% and tended to increase transfer of blood urea N to the gut by about 40%, which could increase the supply of high-quality microbial protein for absorption.     

Effects of zinc sulfate concentration and feeding frequency on ruminal protozoal numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage in steers

Effects of zinc sulfate (0 vs 1,142 ppm supplemental zinc from zinc sulfate) and feeding frequency (1 x vs 12x daily) on ruminal protozoa numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage were investigated using four ruminally and abomasally cannulated mature Jersey steers in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. Steers (530 kg) were fed a 50:50 roughage:concentrate diet at 1.5 times their NEm requirement. Experimental periods were 14 d in duration; ruminal, abomasal and fecal samples were collected at 6-h intervals during the last 3 d of each period. Protozoa numbers tended to be lowest (1.82 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 1 x and tended to be highest (3.83 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 12 x daily (P less than .10). Frequent feeding decreased ruminal pH .24 units and increased total VFA 20.7%, ammonia 22.7% and ruminal digestion of dietary amino acids (AA) 61.6% (P less than .05). Zinc supplementation decreased ruminal digestion of dietary AA 35.8% (P less than .05) and the abomasal passage of bacterial OM and AA 21.2% (P less than .05) and increased ruminal output of amino acids as a percentage of intake 15.1% (P less than .05). Although it increased escape of dietary AA, zinc sulfate decreased postruminal passage of bacterial AA and resulted in a net negative effect on total postruminal AA passage as a percentage of intake. The effects of zinc on ruminal AA digestion may be more closely related to an interaction of zinc with dietary CP rather than to an effect of Zn on ruminal microbial populations.     

Effect of ruminal escape protein and fat on nitrogen utilization in lambs exposed to elevated ambient temperatures.

Eight wether lambs (mean BW = 28.8 kg) with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were assigned to either thermally neutral or high ambient temperature treatments. Within each temperature, lambs were randomly allotted to dietary treatments consisting of a basal diet (60% corn and 24% cottonseed hulls) either with (high; 11.4% CP) or without (control; 10.1% CP) added ruminal escape CP as fish meal and with (high) or without (control) 5% added ruminally inert fat in a 2 x 2 factorial treatment arrangement using a Latin square design. Lambs were fed 606 g of DM/d in each period, which consisted of a 10-d adjustment followed by 6 d of sample collection. High temperature increased (P less than .05) respiration rate, evaporative water loss, and rectal temperature. When compared with controls, lambs fed high escape CP retained more N when exposed to high temperatures (2.8 vs 3.6 g of N/d) and less N at neutral temperatures (3.3 vs 3.1 g of N/d; temperature x escape CP; P less than .05). Retention of N was greater (P less than .05) in lambs fed high than in those fed control fat (3.8 vs 2.7 g/d). Lambs fed high vs control escape CP had greater abomasal feed N flow (percentage of intake) when fed high-fat diets (77.3 vs 56.1%) but similar dietary N flow when fed control fat diets (55.8 vs 54.3%; fat x escape CP; P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)