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Abstract
Zhao, X.G., An, J., Luo, Q.J. and Tan, Z.L. 2007. Effect of method and level of urea supplementation on nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation in sheep fed a maize stover-based diet. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 31: 125–130.
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of method and level of urea supplementation on feed intake, N efficiency, site of digestion and ruminal fermentation in sheep fed a maize stover-based diet. Treatments included an un-supplemented control, two urea supplementation levels and two urea supplementation methods. Feed intakes were not affected (P>0.05) by method or level of supplementation. Total N intake increased (P<0.001) with urea supplementation. N digestibility (P<0.001) and retained N (P<0.05) increased with urea supplementation. It also influenced ruminal DM, OM, ADF and N disappearances. Urea supplementation method or level did not affect rumen pH, however, it influenced rumen NH3-N concentration. The results suggested that ruminants mainly consuming low protein feeds efficiently used urea as N source. However, spraying higher levels of urea were not beneficial.