Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs
Twenty-two Assaf male lambs (29.2 ± 0.9 kg live weight and 89 ± 0.2 days of age), distributed in two experimental groups, were used to evaluate the use of either feed-grade conventional urea (Control diet; <i>n</i> = 11) or slow-release urea (SRU diet; <i>n</i> = 11) as sourc...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3465 |
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| author | Cristina Saro Miguel Alonso Degeneffe Sonia Andrés Javier Mateo Irma Caro Lorena López-Ferreras Egon Henrique Horst Secundino López Francisco Javier Giráldez |
| author_facet | Cristina Saro Miguel Alonso Degeneffe Sonia Andrés Javier Mateo Irma Caro Lorena López-Ferreras Egon Henrique Horst Secundino López Francisco Javier Giráldez |
| author_sort | Cristina Saro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Twenty-two Assaf male lambs (29.2 ± 0.9 kg live weight and 89 ± 0.2 days of age), distributed in two experimental groups, were used to evaluate the use of either feed-grade conventional urea (Control diet; <i>n</i> = 11) or slow-release urea (SRU diet; <i>n</i> = 11) as sources of dietary nitrogen on animal performance, ruminal fermentation, blood acid-base status, plasmatic metabolic profile, and carcass and meat quality. Animals were housed individually and fed ad libitum. At the end of the fattening period (day 70), the animals were slaughtered to compare the fermentation patterns in ruminal digesta and to evaluate the carcass and meat characteristics. No statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) were observed between treatments in the dry matter intake, final live weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion rate. Regarding the ruminal fermentation parameters, the molar proportion of propionic acid was higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and that of butyric acid was lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with the SRU than with the Control diet. There were no significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between experimental treatments in the blood acid-base status and biochemical profile, except for the concentration of urea in plasma, which was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0. 05) greater in SRU than in Control lambs. No statistically significant differences were observed between treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05) in the carcass and meat characteristics. In conclusion, the use of slow-release urea as a replacement for feed-grade conventional urea in the diet of Assaf fattening lambs, under the experimental conditions of this study, did not improve animal performance and increased the feeding costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:05:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6bd839371154126b1dc28938e77e4cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:05:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6bd839371154126b1dc28938e77e4cd2023-11-24T14:24:37ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011322346510.3390/ani13223465Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening LambsCristina Saro0Miguel Alonso Degeneffe1Sonia Andrés2Javier Mateo3Irma Caro4Lorena López-Ferreras5Egon Henrique Horst6Secundino López7Francisco Javier Giráldez8Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, Finca Marzanas s/n, Grulleros, 24346 León, SpainInstituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, Finca Marzanas s/n, Grulleros, 24346 León, SpainInstituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, Finca Marzanas s/n, Grulleros, 24346 León, SpainDepartamento de Higiene y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de León, Campus Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, SpainDepartamento de Higiene y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de León, Campus Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, SpainDepartamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Campus Vegazana, s/n, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Parana Midwestern State University, Guarapuava 85040-167, PR, BrazilInstituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, Finca Marzanas s/n, Grulleros, 24346 León, SpainInstituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, Finca Marzanas s/n, Grulleros, 24346 León, SpainTwenty-two Assaf male lambs (29.2 ± 0.9 kg live weight and 89 ± 0.2 days of age), distributed in two experimental groups, were used to evaluate the use of either feed-grade conventional urea (Control diet; <i>n</i> = 11) or slow-release urea (SRU diet; <i>n</i> = 11) as sources of dietary nitrogen on animal performance, ruminal fermentation, blood acid-base status, plasmatic metabolic profile, and carcass and meat quality. Animals were housed individually and fed ad libitum. At the end of the fattening period (day 70), the animals were slaughtered to compare the fermentation patterns in ruminal digesta and to evaluate the carcass and meat characteristics. No statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) were observed between treatments in the dry matter intake, final live weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion rate. Regarding the ruminal fermentation parameters, the molar proportion of propionic acid was higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and that of butyric acid was lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with the SRU than with the Control diet. There were no significant differences (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between experimental treatments in the blood acid-base status and biochemical profile, except for the concentration of urea in plasma, which was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0. 05) greater in SRU than in Control lambs. No statistically significant differences were observed between treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05) in the carcass and meat characteristics. In conclusion, the use of slow-release urea as a replacement for feed-grade conventional urea in the diet of Assaf fattening lambs, under the experimental conditions of this study, did not improve animal performance and increased the feeding costs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3465Assaftype of ureafeed efficiencyfermentationcarcassmeat |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Saro Miguel Alonso Degeneffe Sonia Andrés Javier Mateo Irma Caro Lorena López-Ferreras Egon Henrique Horst Secundino López Francisco Javier Giráldez Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs Animals Assaf type of urea feed efficiency fermentation carcass meat |
| title | Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs |
| title_full | Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs |
| title_fullStr | Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs |
| title_short | Conventional Feed-Grade or Slow-Release Coated Urea as Sources of Dietary Nitrogen for Fattening Lambs |
| title_sort | conventional feed grade or slow release coated urea as sources of dietary nitrogen for fattening lambs |
| topic | Assaf type of urea feed efficiency fermentation carcass meat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3465 |
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