Metabolism of nitrogenous compounds in sheep fed diets containing Parkia platycephala pods

Abstract

The metabolism of nitrogenous compounds in sheeps fed diets with P. platycephala pods was evaluated. Twenty Santa Inês crossbreed sheep, males, adults, castrated were maintained in metabolism cages, according to the experimental design of randomized blocks, distributed according to live weight. Ingested (Ni), fecal (Nf) and urinary (Nu) nitrogen, and its relations; crude protein digestibility and nitrogen balance were quantified. In the end of the metabolism experiment, ruminal parameters (pH and N-NH3) and blood serum urea nitrogen concentration was quantified as split spot parcel in time, with the parcels being P. partycephala pods levels in the blocks. Linear crescent effect of inclusion of P. platycephala pods in the Nf/Ni ratio was verified, with 0.28% of the Ni excreted as Nf for percent unit of P. platycephala pods inclusion, whereas Nu/Ni ratio presented quadratic effect with inclusion of P. platycephala pods, decreasing until 51.3% of P. platycephala pods, with 12.2g Nu/100gNi. Nitrogen retention (% Ni) was maximum with 36.4% of P. platycephala pods, indicating better efficiency of nitrogenous compounds utilization and smaller impact in the environment. Ruminal pH and the N-NH3 in the ruminal liquid and blood serum urea nitrogen concentrations was affected for experimental diets, collection times and P. platycephala pods x collection times. N-NH3 in the ruminal liquid and blood serum urea were efficient in reflect the sheep nutritional status in relation with nitrogen availability, and it may be adopted in production systems.