Comparative Study on Nitrogen Metabolism and the Nitrogen Maintenance Requirement in Lohmann Brown Roosters and Layers1

The objective of this study was to in- vestigate the effect of dietary protein level on nitrogen retention and compare nitrogen metabolism in Lohm- ann Brown adult roosters and layers. The nitrogen ma- intenance requirement （Nm ） was determined based on the nitrogen balance. Thirty Lohmann Brown adult roosters and 30 laying hens at 27 weeks of age were randomly divided into five groups of six birds per group. The birds were fed with one of five diets con- taining 10.46%, 11.77%, 13.79%, 16.77% or 18.29% of crude protein. Nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency were higher in roost- ers than in laying hens, and the average nitrogen re- tention rate for groups fed with CP level of 11.77%, 13.79%, 16.77% and 18. 29% was improved by9.14%. The nitrogen maintenance requirement for Lohmann Brown roosters and laying hens at 27 weeks of age were 0.4245 g/d and 0.5059 g/d, respective- ly, and Nm based on average body weight （BW） and metabolic body weight （ BW~Ts ） was 0.2364 g/kg BW and 0. 2739 g/kg BW~＇75 for laying hens and 0. 2754 g/kg BW and 0. 3208 g/kg BW~72 for roost- ers, respectively. The regression equations for daily N gain （NB, protein accretion） vs. daily N intake （NI ） for Lohrnann Brown layers and roosters were NB = 0.3743NI -0.1589（R2 =0.79） and NB =0.6228NI - 0.3151 （ R2 = 0.85 ）, respectively. The results of this study indicate that nitrogen intake and nitrogen reten- tion at the same dietary CP level were higher in roost- ers than in laying hens.     

Metabolizable energy,nitrogen balance,and ileal digestibility of amino acids in quality protein maize for pigs

Background

To compare the nutritional value and digestibility of five quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids to that of white and yellow maize, two experiments were carried out in growing pigs. In experiment 1, the energy metabolizability and the nitrogen balance of growing pigs fed one of five QPM hybrid diets were compared against those of pigs fed white or yellow maize. In experiment 2, the apparent and standardized ileal digestibility (AID and SID, respectively) of proteins and amino acids from the five QPM hybrids were compared against those obtained from pigs fed white and yellow maize. In both experiments, the comparisons were conducted using contrasts.

Results

The dry matter and nitrogen intakes were higher in the pigs fed the QPM hybrids (P < 0.05) than in the pigs fed white or yellow maize. Energy digestibility (P < 0.001) and metabolizability (P < 0.01) were higher in the pigs fed the white and yellow maize diets than in those fed the QPM diets. The AID of lysine was higher (P < 0.01) in the QPM diets than in the white and yellow maize. The AIDs of leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, and methionine were lower in the QPM diets than those of maize (white and yellow) (all P < 0.05). Maize (white and yellow) had greater SIDs of leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, serine, alanine, tyrosine, and proline (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Based on these results, it was concluded that QPM had a lower metabolizable energy content and a higher amount of digestible lysine than normal maize.     

Effects of Supplemental Carbohydrate Sources on Lactation Performance, Nitrogen Balance, and Ruminal Fermentation in Dairy Cows Fed Energy-Deficient Total Mixed Rations

The effects of supplemental carbohydrate (CHO) sources on milk yield and composition,nitrogen (N) balance,and ruminal fermentation were evaluated in lactating dairy cows fed energy-deficient total mixed rations (TMR).Fifty-six lactating Holstein cows (36.8 ±3.4 kg/d of milk yield; 152 ±26days in milk [ DIM ] ) were randomly assigned to one of four diets:( 1 ) basal TMR ( control ) ; ( 2 ) basal TMR + 1.25 kg/d sucrose (SUC) ; ( 3 ) basal TMR + 2.12 kg/d steam-flaked corn ( SFC ) ; ( 4 ) basal TMR + 2.23 kg/d wheat (WHE).The trial lasted 70 days,including the first 10 days of adaptation.Simultaneously,a 4 × 4 Latin square trial was conducted with four ruminally cannulated cows of similar DMI (Dry Matter Intake) fed on the above four diets.Each testing period lasted 18 days:15 days for adaptation and 3 days for sampling.Cows fed SUC-,SFC-,and WHE-supplemented diets produced 1.6,2.9,and 0.8 kg/d,respectively,more milk than those on the basal TMR control diet,but the difference was not significant (P =0.160).However,the production of energy-corrected milk of cows fed CHO-supplemented diets improved significantly (P =0.020),and the yield of 4％ fat-corrected milk tended to be higher (P =0.063 ) than in control animals.Percentages of milk protein,lactose and solidsnot-fat (SNF) increased significantly in cows fed CHO-supplemented diets ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and yields of milk protein and SNF were significantly higher (P＜0.05); yields of milk fat and lactose were somewhat higher ( P ＜ 0.10 ).Cows receiving supplementary CHO diets consumed more DM (Dry Matter) ( P =0.023 ) ; however,there was no significant difference in N retention,digestibility,or utilization efficiency among the treatments (P ＞ 0.10 ).The average ruminal pH was lowest in cows supplemented with SUC,while that in cows supplemented with SFC and WHE was only slightly reduced (P =0.025 ).Ruminal NH3-N concentration was highest with no supplementary CHO ( P =0.017 ),and changes in postfeeding time were similar across the diets.Total volatile fatty acid concentration was significantly lower in control animals than in those on SUC- and WHE-supplemented diets ( P =0.001 ) ; significant dietary responses were observed in the concentrations of acetate,butyrate,and branched-chain fatty acids and in the acetate-to-propionate ratio ( P ＜ 0.001 ).These results indicate that supplementation with different CHO sources in energy-deficient diets substantially improved the balance of energy and N in the rumen,altered ruminal fermentation,and improved lactation performance in dairy cows.     

Potential role of N-carbamoyl glutamate in biosynthesis of arginine and its significance in production of ruminant animals

Arginine （ARG） exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen （N） metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth. Unfortunately, unprotected ARG will be degraded in the rumen and its price is high, thus feeding rumen-protected ARG seems to be uneconomical. Alternatively, N-carbamoyl glutamate （NCG） is structural analogue of N-acetyl glutamate, cofactor of cabamoyl phosphate synthetasel, is lower in rumen degradation compared to ARG. Additionally, rumen epithelial and duodenal cells have potentially utilized the NCG for ureagenesis. Supplementation of NCG to high yielding dairy cows increased plasma concentration of ARG and nitric oxide, decreased the plasma ammonia N and improved lactation performance and N utilization. Supplementation of NCG enhanced pregnancy rates in rats, improved litter size and fetal survival rate, thereby improved the reproductive performance of sows. Oral NCG supplementation increases plasma ARG and somatotropin levels, and increased growth rate and muscle protein synthesis in nursing piglets. The NCG is potential a relatively cheaper source of feed additive to offer vital compensation over oral administration of ARG, resulting in improved ruminant animal health and production. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of AfiG biosynthesis by NCG and their significance in growth, reproduction, milk production and N utilization in ruminant animals.     

Effects of different dietary energy and protein levels and sex on growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus x Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle

Background：The experiment evaluated the effect of nutrition levels and sex on the growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat quality of F1 Angus × Chinese Xiangxi yellow cattle.Methods：During the background period of 184 d,23 steers and 24 heifers were fed the same ration,then put into a2×2×2 factorial arrangement under two levels of- dietary energy（TON：70/80%DM）,protein（CP：11.9/14.3%DM）and sex（S：male/female） during the finishing phase of 146 d.The treatments were-（1） high energy/low protein（HELP）,（2） high energy/high protein（HEHP）,（3） low energy/low protein（LELP） and（4） low energy/high protein（LEHP）.Each treatment used 6 steers and 6 heifers,except for HELP- 5 steers and 6 heifers.Results：Growth rate and final carcass weight were unaffected by dietary energy and protein levels or by sex.Compared with the LE diet group,the HE group had significantly lower dry matter intake（DMI,6.76 vs.7.48 kg DM/d）,greater chest girth increments（46.1 vs.36.8 cm）,higher carcass fat（19.9 vs.16.3%） and intramuscular fat content（29.9 vs.22.8%DM）.The HE group also had improved yields of top and medium top grade commercial meat cuts（39.9 vs.36.5%）.The dressing percentage was higher for the HP group than the LP group（53.4 vs.54.9%）.Steers had a greater length increment（9.0 vs.8.3 cm）,but lower carcass fat content（16.8 vs.19.4%） than heifers.The meat quality traits（shear force value,drip loss,cooking loss and water holding capacity） were not affected by treatments or sex,averaging 3.14 kg,2.5,31.5 and 52.9%,respectively.The nutritive profiles（both fatty and amino acid composition） were not influenced by the energy or protein levels or by sex.Conclusions：The dietary energy and protein levels and sex significantly influenced the carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat but not thegrowth performance,meat quality traits and nutritive profiles.     

肉牛真胃灌注不同水平的葡萄糖和酪蛋白对日粮氮代谢调控的研究

３头带有瘤胃和真胃瘘管的肉牛（３７５±２５ｋｇ）饲喂全羊草以满足维持需要,设计３个对比试验,每个试验均向瘤胃内持续灌注高乙酸摩尔比例（７５％）的混合ＶＦＡ。试验１,真胃每天持续灌注１００ｇ,２５０ｇ和４００ｇ葡萄糖;试验２,真胃每天持续灌注２００ｇ,３００ｇ和４００ｇ酪蛋白;试验３,真胃每天持续灌注２５０ｇ葡萄糖与２００ｇ,３００ｇ,４００ｇ酪蛋白组成的混合物。连续７天灌注后测定氮平衡。试验结果表明,真胃灌注葡萄糖、酪蛋白及两者的混合物均能增加氮沉积和可消化氮转化为沉积氮的效率（ＲＮ／ＤＮ）,经回归分析,可消化氮转化为沉积氮的效率（ｙ,％）与真胃葡萄糖灌注量（ｘ,ｇ／天）之间存在线性正相关,回归方程为ｙ＝２５．０８２＋０．１０６９ｘ（ｒ＝０．９８９,ｎ＝４）;与真胃酪蛋白灌注量（ｘ,ｇ／天）之间存在曲线正相关,回归方程分别为ｙ＝３３．４７０＋３．３８２１ｎｘ（ｒ＝０．９７０,ｎ＝４）;与真胃葡萄糖和酪蛋白混合物的灌注量（ｘ,ｇ／天）之间也存在曲线正相关,回归方程为：Ｙ＝３５．８７０＋４．０７９ｌｎｘ（ｒ＝０．９８５,ｎ＝４）。真胃灌注葡萄糖和酪蛋白的混合物比单独灌注葡萄糖时氮的转化效率提高了１９．４１％（Ｐ?     

Studies on nitrogen retention in growing pigs

Nitrogen retention (RN) was measured in 60 barrows of Danish Landrace and a total of 470 balance periods was carried out during the growth period from 20 to 85 kg live weight. In the first serie (Expt A) six different feed compounds of high biological value (HBV) were fed to 48 barrows, while in the second serie (Expt B) 12 barrows were measured on feed compounds of HBV or low biological value (LBV). Three different levels of gross energy were used in Expt B. Individual differences of 10-20% in the pigs capability for nitrogen retention were observed. Nitrogen retention increased from 12 to 21 g N/d on the HBV-compounds and was not influenced by increasing nitrogen or energy intake. Nitrogen retention was curvilinear in relation to metabolic live weight (kg0.75) in both series. A parabolic function on kg0.75 gave the best fit to the data with the following regression equations: Expt A + B: RN, g/d = 1.48 LW, kg0.75 - 0.027 LW, kg1.50 (HBV) Maximum = 20.5 g RN/d at 84 kg LW Expt B: RN, g/d = 1.03 LW, kg0.75 - 0.013 LW, kg1.50 (LBV) Maximum = 20.4 g RN/d at 133 kg LW     

公鸡和母鸡氮代谢及氮维持需要量的比较研究

试验采用氮平衡试验研究产蛋高峰期罗曼公、母鸡的氮维持需要量(Nm),并分析公、母鸡氮代谢的变化规律。试验选取27周龄健康的公、母鸡各30只,分别分为5个处理,每处理6个重复,每个重复1只试鸡,对公、母鸡分别饲喂5个不同粗蛋白质水平的试验日粮。结果表明:相同蛋白水平处理组的公鸡氮食入量和氮沉积率均高于母鸡的结果。母鸡和公鸡的氮食入量(NI)与氮沉积量(NB)间的回归方程分别为NB=0.3743NI-0.1589(R2=0.79)和NB=0.6228NI-0.3151(R2=0.85)。母鸡和公鸡的氮维持需要量分别为每天0.4245g和0.5059g;每千克体重0.2364g和0.2754g;每千克代谢体重0.2739g和0.3208g。     

Equine energetics. I. Relationship between body weight and energy requirements in horses

Energy balance studies using indirect calorimetry were conducted with four mature equids ranging in weight from 125 to 856 kg. Each animal was fed three different levels of intake of the same diet. The amounts of digestible and metabolizable energy required for zero energy balance were determined by calculating regression equations for energy balance against energy intake. It was concluded that the maintenance requirements of equids vary linearly with body weight. No advantage was found for the use of weight for the comparison of equids within the range studied. The digestible energy (DE) requirement for equids confined to metabolism stalls was DE (kcal/d) = 975 + 21.28 X W where W equals body weight in kg. If a factor for activity similar to that suggested by the National Research Council was included, the requirement could be calculated by the equation: DE (kcal/d) = 1,375 + 30.0 X W.     

盐碱胁迫对盐地碱蓬生长、有机酸等溶质积累及其生理功能的影响

为探究碱蓬（Suaeda salsa（L.） Pall.）适应盐碱生境的关键生理机制,以盐地碱蓬为试验材料,采用人工模拟盐、碱胁迫的处理方法,测定其生长指标、根和叶片细胞液中有机酸等溶质积累并对其功能进行分析。结果表明：盐胁迫并不影响碱蓬的生长,而碱胁迫则抑制其生长。盐碱胁迫下有机酸为碱蓬根和叶片中主要的渗透调节物（除Na⁺,K⁺）。离子平衡方面,盐碱胁迫下,Na⁺和K⁺是正电荷的主要贡献者,而有机酸在平衡正电荷方面起主导作用。盐碱胁迫（尤其碱胁迫）由于Na⁺激增、阴离子亏缺,正负电荷严重失衡,诱导合成大量有机酸以保证电荷平衡和pH稳定。综上,盐碱胁迫下碱蓬积累的有机酸在渗透调节、电荷平衡及调节pH方面均起到主导作用。有机酸的积累是碱蓬适应盐碱胁迫重要的生存策略之一。     

食物摄入与下丘脑能量平衡

能量平衡（energy balance）是能量摄入与能量消耗相平衡的过程。动物机体在处于能量平衡时才能维持正常的生命活动。下丘脑中的多个与摄食相关的神经核团，在神经和体液的调节下发挥关键作用，并构成了复杂而精密的神经网络。本文将从影响下丘脑能量平衡的神经核团、神经肽、神经投射和外周激素等方面，对食物摄入与下丘脑能量平衡进行论述。     

牦牛与黑白花牛的氮平衡比较研究

接近初情期的牦牛和黑白花公牛各3头，于代谢厩中进行精料型（精粗比为4：1）和粗料型（精粗比为1：4）日粮条件下的氮平均对比试验。结果表明，不论牦牛还是黑白花牛，干物质采食量（DMI）、粪氮（FN）、尿氮（UN）和干物质消化率（DMD）均随精料含量上升而升高（P＜0．01），而进食氮（NI）的利用效率则随NI的升高而下降（P＜0．01）。在粗料型的日粮条件下，牦牛对NI的利用效率（58．2％）高于（P＜0．05）黑白花牛（49．0％），二者的DMD（45％）无差异；而在精料型的日粮条件下，NI的利用效率（22％）和DMD（64％）均不随牛种而变化（P＞0．05）。从这些结果得出结论：牦牛与黑白花牛消化道的吸收效率是一样的，在精料型日粮条件下，牦牛机体组织存留氮的能力低于黑白花牛；在粗料型日粮条件下，牦牛比黑白花牛更能有效地利用蛋白资源。     

Influence of postfast dietary crude protein and phosphorus content on nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium repletion in sheep.

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of postfast dietary CP and P concentration on the repletion of N, P, Ca, and Mg lost during a 3-d fast in sheep. Four Suffolk wether lambs averaging 35 kg were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Lambs were fed a control diet (700 g/d; as-fed basis) for 14 d and were then deprived of feed and water for 3 d. Lambs were then fed one of four isoenergetic realimentation diets: 1) low CP/low P, 2) low CP/high P, 3) high CP/high P, and 4) high CP/very high P. Realimentation N and Mg intakes were 9.8 and 1.1 g/d for lambs fed the low-CP diet and 18.1 and 1.7 g/d for lambs fed the high-CP diets, respectively. Realimentation P intakes were 1.40, 2.36, 2.66, and 3.82 g/d for lambs fed Diets 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Nitrogen, P, Ca, and Mg apparent digestibility and balance and serum urea N, free fatty acids, P, Ca, Mg, and alkaline phosphatase were determined during the prefast, fast, and realimentation periods. Lambs fed the high-CP diets had higher (P less than .05) N and P digestibility and balance than lambs fed the low-CP diet. Increasing the dietary P content did not affect (P greater than .15) P balance or digestibility. In general, the realimentation diet fed did not affect (P greater than .15) serum concentrations of free fatty acids, alkaline phosphatase, inorganic P, Ca, or Mg.     

Evaluating the Technique of Using Nitrogen Retention as a Response Criterion for Amino Acid Studies in the Horse

Six Quarter Horse yearling fillies were used in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment to evaluate the technique of using nitrogen retention as a response criterion for amino acid studies in the horse. Yearlings were paired by age and randomly assigned to one of three concentrates fed with medium-quality Coastal Bermudagrass hay. Diet A, a soybean meal–based concentrate, was amino acid sufficient. Diet B, a cottonseed hull–based concentrate containing 2% urea, was amino acid deficient. Horses fed diet C, identical to diet B, were orally dosed with synthetic essential amino acids and cysteine, immediately before eating, to match amino acid levels in diet A. Nitrogen retention was not different between diets A and B. There was a trend for horses fed diet C to have higher nitrogen retention, as a result of higher nitrogen intake. Nitrogen retained as a percent absorbed was lower (P < .05) for diet B than for diet A, whereas values for diet C were not different from diets A or B. Nitrogen retention was not an effective response criterion in this study. Differences in nitrogen retained as a percentage absorbed were observed between amino acid–sufficient and deficient diets. However, horses fed amino acid–deficient diets and dosed with synthetic amino acids likely require some modified dosage level to achieve the same or higher values as those for amino acid–sufficient diets.     

Comparative Study on Nitrogen Metabolism and the Nitrogen Maintenance Requirement in Lohmann Brown Roosters and Layers

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary protein level on nitrogen retention and compare nitrogen metabolism in Lohmann Brown adult roosters and layers. The nitrogen maintenance requirement ( Nm ) was determined based on the nitrogen balance. Thirty Lohmann Brown adult roosters and 30 laying hens at 27 weeks of age were randomly divided into five groups of six birds per group. The birds were fed with one of five diets containing 10.46%, 11.77%, 13.79%, 16.77% or 18.29%of crude protein. Nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency were higher in roosters than in laying hens, and the average nitrogen retention rate for groups fed with CP level of 11.77%,13.79%, 16.77% and 18. 29% was improved by 9.14%. The nitrogen maintenance requirement for Lohmann Brown roosters and laying hens at 27 weeks of age were 0.4245 g/d and 0.5059 g/d, respectively,and Nm based on average body weight (BW) and metabolic body weight ( BW0.75 ) was 0.2364 g/kg BW and 0.2739 g/kg BW0.75 for laying hens and 0.2754 g/kg BW and 0.3208 g/kg BW0.75 for roosters, respectively. The regression equations for daily N gain ( NB, protein accretion) vs. daily N intake ( NI )for Lohmann Brown layers and roosters were NB =0.3743NI -0. 1589(R2 =0.79) and NB =0.6228NI -0.3151 (R2 =0.85),respectively. The results of this study indicate that nitrogen intake and nitrogen retention at the same dietary CP level were higher in roosters than in laying hens.     

Changes in nutrient balance,methane emissions,physiologic biomarkers,and production performance in goats fed different forage-to-concentrate ratios during lactation

The objective was to determine the effect forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio and stage of lactation on methane emissions, digestibility, nutrient balance, lactation performance, and metabolic responses in lactating goats. Twenty Murciano-Granadina dairy goats were used in an experiment divided into 3 periods: early (30 d), mid (100 d), and late (170 d) lactation. All goats were fed a diet with 35:65 F:C (FCL) during early-lactation. Then, 1 group (n = 10 goats) remained on FCL through mid- and late-lactation while the other group (n = 10 goats) was fed a diet with 50:50 F:C at mid-lactation (FCM) and 65:35 (FCH) at late lactation. A greater proportion of concentrate in the diet was associated with greater overall intake and digestibility (P < 0.05). Energy balance was negative in early-lactation (−77 kJ/kg of BW^0.75, on average) and positive for FCL at mid- and late-lactation (13 and 35 kJ/kg of BW^0.75, respectively). Goats fed FCM and FCH maintained negative energy balance throughout lactation. Plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids at mid-lactation were greater for FCM than FCL (680 mEq/L), and at late-lactation concentrations were greater for FCH and FCL (856 mEq/L). A similar response was detected for plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. Methane emission was greater (P < 0.05) for FCM than FCH (1.7 g CH₄/d). This study demonstrated that differences in F:C across stages of lactation lead to distinct metabolic responses at the level of the rumen and tissues.     

Influence of varying dietary cation anion difference on serum minerals, mineral balance and hypocalcemia in Nili Ravi buffaloes

The study was conducted to examine the influence of diets containing − 110, + 110, + 220 and + 330 mEq/kg dry matter (DM) of dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) on serum minerals, minerals balance (Na, K, Cl, S, Ca, Mg and P) and hypocalcemia in prepartum Nili Ravi buffaloes in a randomized complete block design during summer. Four DCAD diets were randomly allotted to four groups, five buffaloes in each group. A linear increase in nutrients intake was recorded with increasing the DCAD level. Buffaloes fed − 110 DCAD diet had higher nutrients digestibilities than those fed + 110, + 220 and + 330 DCAD. Blood pH and serum HCO₃ also increased linearly with increasing DCAD level. Serum Cl was high in buffaloes fed the − 110 DCAD diet, while serum cation anion difference increased linearly with increasing the DCAD level. Serum Ca increased with decreasing the DCAD level while serum Mg, P and S remained unaffected. Urine pH increased with increasing DCAD level. A constant increase in urinary excretion of Ca, Mg, P and Cl was observed with decreasing the DCAD level. Buffaloes fed − 110 DCAD diet had increased Ca and Cl balance while Mg, P and S balance remained unaltered due to DCAD alteration. Not a single case of hypocalcemia was observed in buffaloes fed − 110 and + 110 DCAD diets. However, one buffalo from each group fed + 220 and + 330 DCAD diets had hypocalcemia. This study indicated that − 110 and + 110 DCAD diets not only increased calcium balance but also prevented hypocalcemia in Nili ravi buffaloes.     

The effect of a reduced drinking water dose on the digestibility of nutrients and several metabolic parameters in sheep. 2. N-balance, water balance and several physiologic parameters

Wethers of an average live weight of 43.2 kg received alfalfa pellets either according to maintenance requirement (1.3 kg = group I) or ad libitum (1.5 times the amount; 2.0 kg = group II). In variant a both groups received water ad libitum, in variant b the animals received 1/3 of the amount of water, which was taken in ad libitum. Apparent digestibility was between 59 and 64%, the lower value of which was ascertained with the higher feed intake in variant a. 85% of the apparently digested nitrogen were excreted in urine after optimal water supply and ca. 100% after reduced water supply, so that a slightly negative N balance (Ib) and an N balance of +2.3% res (IIb) were achieved. The N balances amounted to +9.4% (Ia) and +8.4% (IIa) resp. after sufficient water supply. The water intake in liters/kg consumed DM reached the following values (in brackets total water intake from drinking water + water in the feed): Ia = 3.16 (3.30), Ib = 1.38 (1.52), IIa = 2.94 (3.08) and IIb = 1.58 (1.72). The water balance (in % of the total water intake) reached the following values in the same sequence: 13.7, 13.2, 17.2 and 25.3. The water content of the body (according to the phenazone dilution method determined from one sheep each) decreased in Ib by 4.7% and in IIb by 5.7% and thus did not reach critical limits. The quota of urea N in urine significantly increased after water restriction. Urea concentration and haematocrit in the blood plasma did not show any significant changes in dependence on water intake; the same was ascertained for the molar quotas of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid and in faeces.     

DCAB对荷斯坦奶牛泌乳性能、血液酸碱平衡及血清矿物质含量的影响

试验选用荷斯坦泌乳早期奶牛15头,采用3X3复拉丁方试验设计,研究日粮DCAB水平分别为+367、+514、+663mmol/kgDM对奶牛生产性能、血液酸碱平衡和血清矿物质含量的影响。试验结果,不同DCAB水平日粮对奶牛奶产量差异不显著(P>0.05),高DCAB水平日粮可增加奶牛血液标准HCO-3含量(P<0.05),不同DCAB水平对奶牛各种血清常量矿物质含量没有影响(P>0.05)。试验表明,日粮DCAB水平超过+514mmol/kgDM可对奶牛奶产量产生不利影响。     

Nutrient intake, acid base status and growth performance of growing male buffalo calves fed varying level of dietary cation anion difference

Influence of + 110, + 220 and + 330 mEq/kg of dry matter (DM) dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) on growth performance of growing male buffalo calves was examined in a randomized complete block design. Three DCAD diets were randomly allotted to three groups, ten calves in each group. A linear increase in nutrient intake was recorded with increased DCAD level. However, digestibilities of nutrients remained unaltered across all diets. Calves fed + 330 DCAD diet had higher nitrogen balance than those fed + 110 DCAD diet. Blood pH and serum HCO₃ increased with increased DCAD level. Serum chloride was high in calves fed + 110 DCAD diet, while serum (Na + K) − (Cl + S) increased linearly with increased DCAD level. Serum calcium increased with decreased DCAD level while serum magnesium and phosphorus remained unaffected. Ca balance remained unaltered by calves fed varying level of DCAD. Urine pH increased with increased DCAD level. Calves fed + 220 and + 330 DCAD diets gained more weight than those fed + 110 DCAD diet. In conclusion, increased DCAD level not only increased dry matter intake but also weight gain in growing buffalo calves.