EFFECT OF UREA ADDITION TO SHEEP DIETS ON DIGESTABILITY, N BALANCE, GROTH RATE and FEED EFFICIENCY.

effect of urea addition to the basal diet (10.3 % CP) on nutrients digestibility, N balance, body weight changes, feed efficiency as well as water intake was investigated in the present study. Three urea levels (1, 1.5 and 2 % of diet DM) were added to the basal diet. Digestibility and growth studies were conducted to achieve the objectives of the present study. Four digestibility and N balance studies were conducted using 8 Ossimi rams (one year old). A growth study using 12 growing Ossini rams was conducted too. The results of these studies indicated that, digestibility of both CP and CF was increased gradually by urea addition to the basal diet from 59.4 to 71.8 and from 38.5 to 53.1 % for CP and CF, respectively. Nitrogen retention increased gradually when urea was added at level of 2% to the basal diet by about 14 % units. Daily gain was about 11, 20 and 45 % higher (P<0.05) in rams fed diet B, C and D (urea containing diets), respectively than that fed diet A (urea free diet). The consumed feed as Kg/kg gain was lower in diets B, C and D than that of diet A. Results also, indicated that there was a tendency for increasing water intake with increasing urea level in the diet. Although, the differences were not significant but was 5.1, 5.9 and 16.9 % higher in diets containing 'urea than that of basal diet. The results also indicated that effect of animals and days on water intake was significant ( P<0.01). It could be concluded that urea addition to the basal diet improved the CP and Cf digestibility, increased the N retention, and improved the feed efficiency, a matter which could be advised from the economical point of view.