Effects of Feed Quality on Rumen Microbial Protein Synthesis in Sheep

Abstract

Microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in the rumen was estimated by the excretion of purine derivatives concentration (allantoin, uric acid, xanthine and hypoxanthine) in the urine of 16 rams of local breed. They were randomly allocated into 4 dietary regimes (as a treatment) i.e.: A (deficient in RDN); B (sufiieient in the RDN); C (deficient in RDN but sufficient in UDN) and D (sufficient in both RDN and UDN) with 4 replicates in each treatment. Additional parameters measured were feed intake, digestibility, body weight change. nitrogen balance and wool production. The results showed that MPSwas depressed in the nimen of rams consuming a ration that deficient in RDN. It was found that in the rumen of rams consuming diets B and D, MPS was substantially improved. The average MPS in this study varied between 1.1 - 4.6 g N/day or equivalent to 17.2 - 33.1 g N/kg DOMR. Suggesting that a normal MPS requires sufficient supply of RDN or UDN or combination of both.