Nitrogen utilization and wool production by sheep

Abstract

The utilization of nitrogen was examined in sheep fed several diets; in some experiments the diet was supplemented with soluble casein given directly into the abomasum through a fistula. Casein supplements per abomasum were almost completely digested and absorbed. At the highest level of casein supplementation (55 g casein nitrogen per day) 95% of the casein was digested and absorbed. An increase in nitrogen intake resulted in an immediate increase in nitrogen balance, followed by a gradual return towards a stable level. There was also an immediate response of faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion to a change in nitrogen intake. Most of the adjustment in urinary nitrogen excretion occurred within 4 days, this period being followed by a gradual change towards a stable level of excretion during the next 6 weeks. Much higher levels of nitrogen retention were obtained from casein administered per abomasum than from similar levels of nitrogen given per os. Changes in wool production also occurred following changes in the nitrogen intake per 0s. The observed changes were variable, depending on the sheep and the feed change involved, and periods of up to 10 weeks were required before the rate of wool production became stable following a change in nutrition. Casein supplementation per abomasum resulted in a substantial increase in wool production and in a rapid increase in wool fibre diameter; most of the increase in fibre diameter occurred in the first week of supplementation. The efficiency of conversion of dietary nitrogen into wool nitrogen was much higher in experiments where a casein supplement was administered per abomasum than in experiments involving normal feeding; possible reasons for this difference are discussed.