EFFECT OF UREA SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE DIGESTIBILITY IN SHEEP

Document Type : Research article

Author

Abstract

Four feeding plans and four digestibility trials were experimented on rams to study the effect of urea addition on the digestibility of the ration and its nutritive value and compare it with the natural protein supplement.
The obtained data indicated that the addition of urea at the level of 1.35% markedly improved the digestibility coefficients of crude protein and crude fiber, while the digestibility coefficients of each of the dry matter, organic matter, ether - extract and nitrogen - free extract were decreased. The total digestible nutrients of the ration nearly remained without detectable change.
On the other hand, the results obtained showed also that in spite of the beneficial effect of urea as a good and cheaper source for nitrogen, yet it did not reach to the efficiency of the natural protein supplement.