Rumen fermentation characteristics, nitrogen balance and growth in lambs fed methane digester effluent
A laboratory silo trial, two lamb metabolism trials and a lamb growth trial were conducted to compare the nitrogen (N) value of swine methane digester effluent (MDE) to that of urea. Using laboratory silos (four/treatment), fermentation characteristics were measured for silages containing cracked corn, ground wheat straw and MDE added at levels of 0, 4, 8 or 12% of silage dry matter (DM). Lactic acid concentration increased linearly with up to 8% MDE addition, but then decreased with 12% MDE. Butyric acid was highest with 12% MDE, indicating an undesirable fermentation. In a metabolism study, DM, organic matter and N digestibilities and N balance were similar between urea and MDE, but DM digestibility was lower for ensiled diets (52%) than diets fed fresh daily (59.4%). Mean ruminal volatile fatty acid, ruminal ammonia-N and plasma urea-N concentrations were similar between urea- and MDE-fed lambs. Plasma urea-N was higher and ruminal isovaleric acid lower in animals fed ensiled than fresh diets. In the second metabolism trial, digestibility of N was lowest for MDE and highest for soybean meal, but N balance was similar among all diets.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
- OSTI ID:
- 6139470
- Journal Information:
- J. Anim. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Anim. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 6; ISSN JANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALKANES
AMIDES
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
BIOCONVERSION
BODY
BUTYRIC ACID
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
FERMENTATION
FOOD
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY ACIDS
LACTATES
LACTIC ACID
MAMMALS
METHANE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
ORGANS
RUMINANTS
SHEEP
STOMACH
STRAW
UREA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES