Effect of dietary protein and urea on in vitro caecal ammonia production from urea and uric acid in cockerels

1. Single Comb White Leghorn adult cockerels were fed on 50 g/kg protein diet, 200 g/kg protein diet or 50 g/kg protein diet plus urea and in vitro ammoniagenesis from urea and uric acid in the caeca was determined.

2. Four‐fold protein intake caused about 4.6‐fold increase in caecal ammonia production from urea (P < 0.05), and tended to increase it from uric acid as compared with 50 g/kg protein‐fed birds.

3. Dietary urea significantly increased caecal ammonia production from urea and uric acid by about 2 and 3 times as much as those of control birds, respectively (P < 0.05).

4. It is concluded that increased protein intake and the feeding of urea are able to induce ammoniagenesis from urea and uric acid in the caeca of fowls.