Nitrogen metabolism and recycling in yaks (Bos grunniens) offered a forage - concentrate diet differing in N concentration

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. S. Guo ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
J. W. Zhou ◽  
R. J. Long ◽  
G. S. Xin ◽  
...  

An experiment was conducted to characterise N use efficiency and quantify urea fluxes in yaks offered four levels of dietary N (1.43%, 1.97%, 2.45% and 2.90% of diet DM) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The incremental increase in N intake linearly increased N retention (P = 0.003) and the excretion of urinary N (P < 0.001), but no difference (P > 0.05) in faecal N excretion was observed in growing yaks fed any of the four diets. Microbial N production had quadratic (P < 0.001) responses to dietary N, characterised by the highest microbial N production occurring in the 1.97% N diet (P < 0.05). As the N content of the diet increased, the urinary excretion of urea increased from 13% to 27% of urea entry rate (quadratic, P < 0.001), whereas gastrointestinal entry urea returned to ornithine cycling decreased from 46% to 40% (linear, P < 0.001), and the gastrointestinal entry urea used for anabolism increased from 50% to 56% (linear, P < 0.001). Gastrointestinal entry urea incorporated into bacterial N decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with incremental increase in N intake, and the greatest concentration (23.5%) of bacterial N originating from plasma urea N was in yaks fed the 1.43% N diet. As much as 87% of the urea synthesised in the liver was returned to the gastrointestinal tract when the yaks were fed a diet with 1.43% N (1.1 times the maintenance N level). Moreover, constantly greater urea production than the intake of digestible N, and the gastrointestinal-urea clearance than the kidney-urea clearance were observed, respectively, in the growing yaks, regardless of the level of N intake. These results suggest that yaks might be more efficient at utilising N under harsh environment than are cattle.

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-728
Author(s):  
A.A. Pursley ◽  
B. Biligetu ◽  
T.D. Warkentin ◽  
H.A. Lardner ◽  
G.B. Penner

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion rate of pea hay in barley or oat hay diets for beef cattle. Six ruminally cannulated heifers (407 ± 38 kg) were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square (25 d periods) with a 2 × 3 factorial design. Treatments included whole-crop barley or oat hay with pea hay blended in to achieve inclusion rates of 0%, 15%, or 30% (dry matter basis) of the forage. Pea hay inclusion increased dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.03) by 0.75 kg d−1 relative to diets without pea hay, but the response was not linear or quadratic. Inclusion of pea hay linearly increased mean ruminal pH (P = 0.039), the concentration of butyrate in ruminal fluid (P = 0.013), plasma urea nitrogen (N) concentration (P = 0.001), and quadratically increased ruminal ammonia concentration (P < 0.001). Pea hay inclusion reduced crude protein (CP) digestibility by 2.87% relative to cereal-only treatments (P = 0.025), but did not affect N intake, microbial N, or N excretion. Overall, pea hay inclusion increased DMI, increased ruminal butyrate concentration, but reduced CP digestibility without affecting N balance.


1982 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Hodgson ◽  
D. J. Mellor ◽  
A. C. Field

1. Five monotocous and twoditocous Scottish Blackface ewes with indwelling catheters in an umbilical artery and vein of one foetus only and in both maternal jugular veins were used.2. Experiments were conducted over a period of 2 d when [I4C]urea was infused intravenously over 9 h into either the mother or foetus, separate days being used for each infusion. Two series of experiments were completed, one in well-nourished and the other in undernourished sheep at 125–141) and 138–143 d of gestation respectively.3. Plasma urea specific radioactivities of the mother and infused foetus at plateau were used to determine the urea flux-rates within and between mother and foetus. The mean rate of foetal urea production (Ffo) was 1.45 and 1.63 mg/min per kg foetus in well-nourished and undernourished ewes respectively. The corresponding rates of maternal urea production (Fmo) were 0.49 and 0.37 mg/min per kg live weight respectively and there was a close correlation between the rate of maternal urea disposal (Fom) and the dietary nitrogen intake.4. The values of Ffo were used to calculate the maximum potential for foetal gluconeogenesis from deaminated amino acids. These calculations were compared with published information on the over-all rates of foetal gluconeo genesis in well-nourished ewes.5. The foetal entry rate of urea expressed on a body-weight basis was high, approximately 8.5 times that of the mother, but it was a threefold overestimate of Ffo. The maternal entry rate was 1.3 times Fmo and the significance of this in relation to assessing differences in urea entry rates in pregnant and non-pregnant sheep is discussed.


1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Kennedy

1. The rates of entry of urea into plasma, of urea degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, and the partition of that degradation between the rumen and post-ruminal tract were determined by use of [14C]urea and NaH14CO3 in Hereford steers receiving hay diets with or without sucrose. The concentrations of plasma urea and rumen ammonia were varied by infusions of urea into the rumen or abomasum.2. For all diets, plasma urea concentration was related to urea entry rate, to degradation of urea in the whole gastrointestinal tract, and to its degradation in the post-ruminal tract, but the relationship with its degradation in the rumen was poor.3. Degradation of urea in the rumen was related in a multiple regression in a curvilinear manner in three groups of diets (pasture-hay alone, pasture-hay–lucerne (Medicago sativa) mixtures, diets with sucrose), and negatively to rumen ammonia concentration for pasture-hay diets, and diets with sucrose.4. Ruminal clearance of urea (rate of urea degradation per plasma urea concentration) was negatively related to the rumen ammonia concentration for steers given diets with sucrose, of pasture-hay with or without urea infusions. Provision of sucrose in the diet significantly increased clearance.5. Enhanced urea degradation in the rumen associated with dietary sucrose supplements accounted for 0.4 of additional microbial N synthesis in the rumen.6. The partition of transfer of urea to the rumen via saliva and through the rumen wall is discussed.


1976 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Allen ◽  
E. L. Miller

1. Plasma urea entry rate, urinary urea excretion and, by difference, urea recycling in the body, together with the flow of non-ammonia N through the abomasum and digestion of dry matter (dm) before the abomasum were determined in both wethers and lambs receiving cereal-starch diets supplemented with urea to give 60–120 g crude protein (N × 6.25)/kgdm.2. Lambs excreted less urea in urine than wethers given the same diet.3. Relationships between plasma urea entry rate or urine urea excretion rate and plasma urea concentration were different for lambs compared to wethers suggesting greater conser vation of body N by renal control in lambs.4. Recycling of urea was not related to plasma urea concentration in wethers but was related exponentially in lambs, suggesting recycling is controlled rather than the result of simple diffusion from the blood to the gastro-intestinal tract.5. Abomasal non-ammonia-N flow was similar for wethers and lambs and increased linearly with urea supplementation.6.dmdigestion prior to the abomasum was not significantly altered, although there was a tendency for decreased digestion of the basal diet given to lambs.7. Maximum microbial N flow to the abomasum was estimated as 30 g N/kg organic matter (OM) fermented in the rumen.8. This work and the literature reviewed suggested maximum net microbial production can be obtained when the diet supplies an amount of fermentable N equal to the microbial N output. It is calculated the diet should supply approximately 26 g fermentable N/kg digestible OM or 1.8 g fermentable N/MJ metabolizable energy. This corresponds to a fermentable crude protein supply varying from 65 to 130 g/kg DM as digestible OM content increases from 400 to 800 g/kg DM.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 919
Author(s):  
Verónica M. Merino ◽  
Lorena Leichtle ◽  
Oscar A. Balocchi ◽  
Francisco Lanuza ◽  
Julián Parga ◽  
...  

The aim was to determine the effect of the herbage allowance (HA) and supplement type (ST) on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, grazing behavior, rumen function, and blood metabolites of grazing dairy cows in the spring season. Experiment I: 64 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were distributed in a factorial design that tested two levels of daily HA (20 and 30 kg of dry matter (DM) per cow) and two ST (high moisture maize (HMM) and cracked wheat (CW)) distributed in two daily rations (3.5 kg DM/cow/day). Experiment II: four mid-lactation rumen cannulated cows, supplemented with either HMM or CW and managed with the two HAs, were distributed in a Latin square design of 4 × 4, for four 14-d periods to assess ruminal fermentation parameters. HA had no effect on milk production (averaging 23.6 kg/day) or milk fat and protein production (823 g/day and 800 g/day, respectively). Cows supplemented with CW had greater protein concentration (+1.2 g/kg). Herbage DMI averaged 14.17 kg DM/cow.day and total DMI averaged 17.67 kg DM/cow.day and did not differ between treatments. Grazing behavior activities (grazing, rumination, and idling times) and body condition score (BCS) were not affected by HA or ST. Milk and plasma urea concentration increased under the high HA (+0.68 mmol/L and +0.90 mmol/L, respectively). Cows supplemented with HMM had lower milk and plasma urea concentrations (0.72 mmol/L and 0.76 mmol/L less, respectively) and tended (p = 0.054) to have higher plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. Ruminal parameters did not differ between treatments.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Ying Ouyang ◽  
Gary Feng ◽  
Heidi Renninger ◽  
Theodor D. Leininger ◽  
Prem Parajuli ◽  
...  

Eucalyptus is one of the fastest growing hardwoods for bioenergy production. Currently, few modeling tools exist to simultaneously estimate soil hydrological processes, nitrogen (N) uptake, and biomass production in a eucalyptus plantation. In this study, a STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation)-based model was developed to meet this need. After the model calibration and validation, a simulation scenario was developed to assess eucalyptus (E. grandis × urophylla) annual net primary production (ANPP), woody biomass production (WBP), water use efficiency (WUE), and N use efficiency (NUE) for a simulation period of 20 years. Simulation results showed that a typical annual variation pattern was predicted for water use, N uptake, and ANPP, increasing from spring to fall and decreasing from fall to the following winter. Overall, the average NUE during the growth stage was 700 kg/kg. To produce 1000 kg eucalyptus biomass, it required 114.84 m3 of water and 0.92 kg of N. This study suggests that the STELLA-based model is a useful tool to estimate ANPP, WBP, WUE, and NUE in a eucalyptus plantation.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Ali I. Nawar ◽  
Hassan E. Khalil ◽  
Ahmed M. Shaalan

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-332
Author(s):  
J. Zhang ◽  
Y. Miao ◽  
W.D. Batchelor

Over-application of nitrogen (N) in rice (Oryza sativaL.) production in China is common, leading to low N use efficiency (NUE) and high environmental risks. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of the CERES-Rice crop growth model to simulate N response in the cool climate of Northeast China, with the long term goal of using the model to develop optimum N management recommendations. Nitrogen experiments were conducted from 2011–2015 in Jiansanjiang, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. The CERES-Rice model was calibrated for 2014 and 2015 and evaluated for 2011 and 2013 experiments. Overall, the model gave good estimations of yield across N rates for the calibration years (R2=0.89) and evaluation years (R2=0.73). The calibrated model was then run using weather data from 2001–2015 for 20 different N rates to determine the N rate that maximized the long term marginal net return (MNR) for different N prices. The model results indicated that the optimum mean N rate was 120–130 kg N ha–1, but that the simulated optimum N rate varied each year, ranging from 100 to 200 kg N ha–1. Results of this study indicated that the CERES-Rice model was able to simulate cool season rice growth and provide estimates of optimum regional N rates that were consistent with field observations for the area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2349
Author(s):  
Jingchun Ji ◽  
Jianli Liu ◽  
Jingjing Chen ◽  
Yujie Niu ◽  
Kefan Xuan ◽  
...  

Topdressing accounts for approximately 40% of the total nitrogen (N) application of winter wheat on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. However, N use efficiency of topdressing is low due to the inadaptable topdressing method used by local farmers. To improve the N use efficiency of winter wheat, an optimization method for topdressing (THP) is proposed that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing to accurately acquire the growth status and an improved model for growth potential estimation and optimization of N fertilizer amount for topdressing (NFT). The method was validated and compared with three other methods by a field experiment: the conventional local farmer’s method (TLF), a nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA) proposed by Raun and Lukina (TRL) and a simplification introduced by Li and Zhang (TLZ). It shows that when insufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the proposed method provided as much NFT as the TLF method, i.e., 25.05% or 11.88% more than the TRL and TLZ methods and increased the yields by 4.62% or 2.27%, respectively; and when sufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the THP method followed the TRL and TLZ methods to reduce NFT but maintained as much yield as the TLF method with a decrease of NFT by 4.20%. The results prove that THP could enhance crop production under insufficient N preceding conditions by prescribing more fertilizer and increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by lowering the fertilizer amount when enough basal fertilizer is provided.


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