Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T05:38:20.525Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Soya bean meal, crystalline urea, and a urea, mineral and vitamin solution as nitrogen sources for lactating ewes given whole oats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Jean M. Bass
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Department, Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH
G. Fishwick
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Department, Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH
J. J. Parkins
Affiliation:
Animal Husbandry Department, Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH
Get access

Abstract

Fifty-one ewes with single lambs and 87 ewes suckling twin lambs (mean ewe live weight, 67 kg) were given a basal diet of 1·0kg hay and 1·0kg whole oats, providing approximately 16·7MJ metabolizable energy and lOOg digestible crude protein per day. Three supplements (A, B and C), providing an additional 45 g digestible crude protein, were compared. Supplement A consisted of 40 g of a fully-soluble liquid product (LS) containing urea, (equivalent to 1090g crude protein per kg), minerals and vitamins; B was 16g urea with solid minerals and vitamins; and C was 125g soya bean meal given in substitution for the same amount of whole oats plus solid minerals and vitamins. The growth rate to 6 weeks for single lambs (11 kg) was unaffected by treatment. For twin lambs the growth rates were 7·5kg (LS), 7·1kg (crystalline urea), 7·8kg (soya) and 6·4k g (unsupplemented) (s.e. of mean = 0·31 kg). Ewes with twin lambs given crystalline urea or LS lost more live weight (approximately 1·04kg) than those given soya (6·6kg) over the first 6 weeks of lactation. The maintenance of normal concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the blood of ewes suggested that the low total intakes of approximately 4·1 g calcium and 4·7 g phosphorus by the ewes were not inadequate.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council. 1965. The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock. No. 2, Ruminants. Agricultural Research Council, London.Google Scholar
Brown, Nora A. and Hemingway, R. G. 1962. A rapid metho d for the determination of copper in biological tissues by means of zinc dibenzyldithiocarbumute. Res. ret. Sci. 3: 345347.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J., Fraser, J. and Hemingway, R. G. 1976. Evaluation of molassed sugar-beet pulp nuts supplemented with urea as an energy and protein source for lactating ewes. Anim. Prod. 22: 403409.Google Scholar
Fishwick, G., Parkins, J. J., Hemingway, R. G. and Ritchie, N. S. 1978. A comparison of the voluntary intake and digestibility by beef cows of diets based on oat straw and supplemented with different forms of non-protein nitrogen. Anim. Prod. 26: 135141.Google Scholar
Fiske, C. H. and Subbarow, Y. 1925. The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. J. biol. Chem. 66: 375400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, R. W. and Hogue, D. E. 1964. Effects of energy intake and number of lambs suckled on milk yield, milk composition and energetic efficiency of lactating ewes. J. Anim Sci. 23: 935942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonzalez, J. S., Robinson, J. J., McHattie, I. and Mehrez, A. Z. 1979. The use of lactating ewes in evaluating protein sources for ruminants. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 38: 145A (Abstr.).Google ScholarPubMed
Hemingway, R. G., Parkins, J. J. and Fishwick, G. 1977. A concentrated solution containing urea, phosphorus, calcium and sodium for supplementation of oat straw-based diets given to beef cows. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 36: 130A (Abstr.).Google ScholarPubMed
Jordon, R. M. 1952. Effect of urea on pregnant ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 11: 768 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
McHattie, I., Fraser, C., Thompson, J. L. and Robinson, J. J. 1978. Dietary protein utilization by ewes in early lactation. Anim. Prod. 26: 379 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and Department of Agricultre for Northern Ireland. 1975. Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. Tech. Bull. 33. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Smart, R. and Mehrez, A. Z. 1974. A method of including urea in whole grains. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 83: 299302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parkins, J. J. 1974. Nitrogen retention from dietary urea by ewes in late pregnancy. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 83: 563565.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parkins, J. J., Fraser, J., Ritchie, N. S. and Hemingway, R. G. 1974. Urea as a protein source for ewes with twin lambs in late pregnancy and early lactation. Anim. Prod. 19: 321329.Google Scholar
Pope, L. S., Gallup, W. D. and Read, D. C. 1952. Urea in rations for pregnant and lactating ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 11: 773774 (Abstr.).Google Scholar