49871
document
Microbial protein synthesis , nitrogen capture efficiency and nutrient utilisation in sheep fed on finger millet straw ( Eleucine coracana ) -based diet with different rumen-degradable nitrogen levels . BACKGROUND Microbial protein synthesised in the rumen is a very important protein source for ruminants . It is essential to provide an adequate amount of rumen-degradable nitrogen ( RDN ) for optimum microbial protein synthesis in the rumen on straw-based diets . The objective of this study was to determine the RDN requirement for optimum microbial protein synthesis ( MPS ) , nitrogen capture efficiency ( NCE ) and nutrient utilisation in Nellore rams fed on a finger millet straw ( FMS ) -based diet . RESULTS Thirty-six Nellore sheep were randomly divided into four groups of nine animals each using a balanced , completely randomised design . The animals in group 1 ( RDN0 ) were fed with ad libitum FMS . Those in groups 2 , 3 and 4 ( RDN1 , RDN2 and RDN3 ) were supplemented with groundnut cake to provide RDN levels of 14 , 18 and 23 g RDN kg⁻¹ digestible organic matter intake ( DOMI ) or 21 , 27 and 35 g RDN kg⁻¹ digestible organic matter apparently digested in the rumen ( DOMR ) respectively along with FMS . The digestibility coefficients of all nutrients and MPS increased ( P < 0.05 ) quadratically with increasing level of RDN supplementation . NCE decreased linearly ( P < 0.05 ) as the level of RDN increased . CONCLUSION The results suggest that 12 g RDN kg⁻¹ DOMI or 19 g RDN kg⁻¹ DOMR may be adequate for optimum MPS , NCE and digestibility of nutrients in sheep fed on an FMS-based diet .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
finger millet straw ( Eleucine coracana ) -based
49873
Intervention_Pharmacological
finger millet straw ( FMS ) -based diet
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Intervention_Pharmacological
ad libitum FMS
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Intervention_Pharmacological
groundnut cake
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Outcome_Physical
RDN levels
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Participant_Condition
sheep fed on finger millet straw ( Eleucine coracana ) -based diet
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Participant_Condition
Nellore rams fed on a finger millet straw ( FMS ) -based diet .