Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T06:09:12.835Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of diet, level of intake, sodium bicarbonate and monensin on urinary allantoin excretion in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

R. J. Dewhurst  and
A. J. F. Webster
R. J. Dewhurst
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DU
A. J. F. Webster
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DU
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The present experiment was designed to study the effects of factors likely to alter microbial purine yield from the rumen on urinary excretion of allantoin-nitrogen (UAN). Sixteen mature Clun Forest–Welsh crossbred wethers were used in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design to investigate the effects of (1) level of intake, (2) wheat: nutritionally improved straw (NIS) ratio, (3) sodium bicarbonate inclusion and (4) monensin inclusion on diet digestibilities, fractional outflow rates of solids and liquids from the rumen and urinary allantoin excretion. Each treatment occurred in each of two experimental periods. The treatments were designed to influence microbial purine yield via changes in rumen outflow rate and microbial maintenance coefficient. Increasing the proportion of NIS and increasing feeding level decreased digestibility and increased the fractional outflow rate of solids. Increasing the level of intake increased the fractional outflow rate of liquids. Urinary allantoin excretion (/kg live weight0.75 per d) was significantly increased by an increased proportion of wheat in the diet and increased level of intake, and significantly reduced by NaHCO3. There was a significant interaction effect such that increasing level of intake did not increase UAN with the high-NIS diet, despite an increased fractional outflow of solids from the rumen, in contrast to the increase observed with the high-wheat diet. Taken together with other observations it is suggested that high sodium concentrations in the diet reduce the efficiency of microbial synthesis, probably by increasing the energy cost of maintaining osmolarity. Monensin had no overall effect on UAN but there were significant interactions between monensin and dietary Na; the inhibitory effect of monensin on UAN was eliminated or reversed in the presence of added NaHCO3. This is consistent with theories that monensin increases the net influx of hydrogen ions into microbial cells and that this influx can be reduced by increased extracellular sodium ions.

Keywords

Urinary allantoinRumenMicrobial maintenance coefficientSheep
Type
Metabolic Effects of Diet
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 67 , Issue 3 , May 1992 , pp. 345 - 353
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1992

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council (1984) The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock, Suppl. 1. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
Allen, J. D. & Harrison, D. G. (1979) The effect of dietary monensin upon digestion in the stomachs of sheep. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 38, 32A.Google ScholarPubMed
Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1965) Methods of Analysis, 10th ed. Washington, DC: Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.Google Scholar
Bergen, W. G. & Bates, D. B. (1984) Ionophores: their effect on production efficiency and mode of action. Journal of Animal Science 58, 1465–1483.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Borchers, R. (1977) Allantoin determination. Analytical Biochemistry 79, 612–613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, X. B., Hovell, F. D., DeB., Ørskov, E., R. & Brown, D. S. (1990) Excretion of purine derivatives by ruminants: effect of exogenous nucleic acid supply on purine derivative excretion by sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 63, 131–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Demeyer, D., Van Nevel, C. J., Teller, E. & Godeau, J. M. (1986) Manipulation of rumen digestion in relation to the level of production in ruminants. Archives of Animal Nutrition 36, 132–143.Google Scholar
Dewhurst, R. J. (1989). Studies on energy and nitrogen metabolism in the rumen: investigation of less invasive techniques for these studies. PhD Thesis, University of Bristol.Google Scholar
Dewhurst, R. J., Waters, C. J. & Webster, A. J. F. (1987) Use of urinary allantoin excretion to assess the energetic efficiency of microbial protein yield in sheep. Animal Production 44, 475A.Google Scholar
Evans, E. (1981a) An evaluation of the relationship between dietary parameters and rumen liquid turnover rate. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 61, 91–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, E. (1981b) An evaluation of the relationship between dietary parameters and rumen solid turnover rate. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 61, 97–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harmeyer, J. (1986) Energy expenditures of rumen microbes for maintenance. Archives of Animal Nutrition 36, 143–148.Google ScholarPubMed
Harrison, D. G. & McAllan, A. B. (1980). Factors affecting microbial growth yields in the rumen. In Digestive Physiology and Metabolism in Ruminants, pp. 205–226 [Ruckebush, Y. and Thivend, P., editors]. Lancaster: MTP Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoeller, H., Breves, G., Lebzien, P. & Rohr, K. (1985) Effects of monensin on net synthesis of thiamin and microbial protein in the rumen of cows. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 44, 146A.Google Scholar
Isichei, C. O. & Bergen, W. G. (1980). The effect of monensin on the composition of abomasal nitrogen flow in steers fed grain and silage rations. Journal of Animal Science 51, Suppl.371A–372A.Google Scholar
Laurent, F. & Vignon, B. (1979) Variations de l'excrétion urinaire d'azote total, d'urée et d'allantoïne chez le mouton et chez le bouc (Variation in the urinary excretion of total nitrogen, urea and allantoin by wether sheep and male goats). Bulletin ENSAIA, Nancy 21, 115–124.Google Scholar
Laurent, F., Blanchart, G. & Vignon, B. (1980) Effet de l'addition de monensin sur la valeur alimentaire de la ration et sur l'utilization d'azote par les moutons et par les boucs (Effect of monensin on nutritive value and nitrogen utilization in sheep and goats). Bulletin ENSAIA, Nancy 22, 43–49.Google Scholar
Lawes, Agricultural Trust (1987) Genstat 5. Harpenden: Rothamsted Experimental Station.Google Scholar
McAllan, A. B. & Smith, R. H. (1969) Nucleic acid metabolism in the ruminant. Determination of nucleic acids in digesta. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 671–682.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mackie, R. I. & Therion, J. J. (1984). Influence of mineral interactions on the growth efficiency of rumen bacteria.In Herbivore Nutrition, pp. 455–477 [Gilchrist, F.M. C. and Mackie, R. I., editors]. Craighall, South Africa: Science Press.Google Scholar
Milner, B. A. & Whiteside, P. J. (1981) Introduction to Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Pye Unicam Ltd.Google Scholar
Minitab, Inc. (1980) Minitab Data Analysis Software. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State College.Google Scholar
Perski, H. J., Schonheit, P. & Thauer, R. K. (1982) Sodium dependence of methane formation in methanogenic bacteria. FEBS Letters 143, 323–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poos, M. I., Hanson, T. L. & Klopfenstein, T. J. (1979) Monensin effects on diet digestibility, ruminal protein bypass and microbial protein synthesis. Journal of Animal Science 48, 1516–1524.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, J. B. & Van Soest, P. J. (1977) Dietary fiber estimation in concentrate feedstuffs. Journal of Animal Science 45, Suppl.1, 254A.Google Scholar
Rogers, J. A. & Davis, C. L. (1982) Rumen volatile fatty acid production and nutrient utilization in steers fed a diet supplemented with sodium bicarbonate and monensin. Journal of Dairy Science 65, 944–952.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rumpler, W. V., Johnson, D. E. & Bates, D. B. (1986) The effect of high dietary cation concentration on methanogenesis by steers fed diets with and without ionophores. Journal of Animal Science 62, 1737–1741.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, J. B. (1987) A proposed mechanism of monensin action in inhibiting ruminal bacterial growth: effects on ion flux and proton motive force. Journal of Animal Science 64, 1519–1525.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rys, R., Antoniewicz, A. & Maciejewicz, J. (1975). Allantoin in urine as an index of microbial protein in the rumen. In Tracer Studies on Non-protein-nitrogen for Ruminants (2), pp. 95–98. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Authority.Google Scholar
Schelling, G. T., Koenig, S. E. & Jackson, T. J. (1982). Nucleic acids and purine or pyrimidine bases as markers for protein synthesis in the rumen. In Protein Requirement for Cattle: Symposium, pp. 1–9 [Owens, F. N., editor]. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University.Google Scholar
Schwingel, W. R., Bates, D. B., Denham, S. C. & Beede, D. K. (1989) Effect of potassium and sodium on in vitro ruminal fermentations containing lasalocid or monensin. Nutrition Reports International 39, 735–747.Google Scholar
Uden, P., Colucci, P. E. & Van Soest, P. J. (1980) Investigation of chromium, cerium and cobalt as markers in digesta. Rate of passage studies. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 31, 625–632.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Nevel, C. J. & Demeyer, D. I. (1977) Effect of monensin on rumen metabolism in vitro. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 34, 251–257.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Soest, P. J. & Wine, R. H. (1967) Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds (4) Determination of plant cell-wall constituents. Journal of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists 50, 50–55.Google Scholar
Webster, A. J. F. (1987). Metabolizable protein – the U.K. approach. In Feed Evaluation and Protein Requirements Systems for Ruminants, pp. 47–53 [Jarrige, R. and Alderman, G., editors]. Luxemburg: Office of the Official Publications of The European Communities.Google Scholar
Zinn, R. A. & Owens, F. N. (1986) A rapid procedure for purine measurement and its use for estimating net ruminal protein synthesis. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 66, 157–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar