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Effect of Urea and Diammonium Citrate on Fecal Components of Chicken Hens1
RESEARCH NOTES
1480
EFFECT OF UREA AND DIAMMONIUM CITRATE ON FECAL COMPONENTS OF CHICKEN HENS 1 R. KAZEMI AND S. L. BALLOUN Animal Science Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010 (Received for publication March 22, 1972) ABSTRACT Uric acid and creatine concentrations in excreta increased in hens fed urea or diammonium citrate (DAC) compared with excreta of hens fed corn-soybean meal diets. Nitrogen retention was reduced by more than 50% by adding urea or DAC to the diet at 4% crude protein equivalent. POULTRY SCIENCE 51: 1480-1481,
EXPERIMENTAL An experimental low-protein ration was formulated (Table 1) and DAC or soybean meal was added at 4% protein equivalent (N X 6.25), replacing cellulose on an equal weight basis. Rations were isonitrogenous (14.14;% crude protein) and isocaloric (2880 Kcal. M.E./kg.). Nine laying pullets (Welp-line) were randomly distributed among the three experimental diets. The rations were fed for 72 hours, and all excreta collected in a tray lined with aluminum foil and containing 5% boric acid. The droppings were collected at 36- and 72-hour intervals and placed in a 4°C. cooling room to retard 1
Journal Paper No. J-7199 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1721.
TABLE 1.—Composition of laying rations Ingredients Ground yellow corn Soybean meal (49% protein) Soybean oil Dicalcium phosphate Limestone 1 Salt mixture Vitamin mixture 2 Urea Diammonium citrate Soybean meal Cellulose
% 73.00 8.00 Variable 2.50 6.00 0.50 0.50 Variable Variable Variable Variable
1 Supplied the following minerals per kg. of diet: NaCl, 4.5 g.; Mn, 88 mg.; Zn, 19 mg.; Fe, 14 mg.; Cu, 2.2 mg.; I 2 , 1.2 mg.; Co, 0.14 mg. 2 Supplied the following vitamins per kg. of diet: A, 80001.U.; D 3 , 15001.C.U.; B 2 , 5 mg.; Bi2, 5 meg.; pantothenic acid, 5 mg.; niacin, 15 mg.; choline, 325 mg.
chemical and microbial action. A blank tray also was used to check evaporation rate and to determine the proper dilution factor. The excreta was thoroughly homogenized, and a sample centrifuged at 10,000 r.p.m. for 10 minutes. The supernatant layer was saved for the modified determinations of uric acid, creatine, and creatinine (Richardson, 1959) and ammonia and urea (Hawk et al., 1954). Nitrogen retention was studied by determining nitrogen in the ration and fecal excreta by the standard macro- and micro-Kjeldahl methods, respectively. Data were analyzed statistically according to Snedecor and Cochran (1967).
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Arizona on June 7, 2016
There are numerous studies on the utilization of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) by poultry. The literature, however, is deficient with respect to information about the excretory products of laying hens fed diets containing non-protein nitrogen. Because of the inferior response of laying hens to urea and diammonium citrate (DAC) in our previous studies (Kazemi and Balloun, unpublished data), and because of the lack of published information on the effect of NPN on excretory products, the present study was conducted.
1972
1481
RESEARCH NOTES TABLE 2.—Effect of dietary NPN on nitrogen retention and fecal excretory components Diet 1 Soybean Meal Urea DAC
Nitrogen Retention (%)
Uric Acid in excreta (mg./ml.)
Creatine in excreta (mg./ml.)
48 19 20
57 219 219
0.48 1.53 1.71
1 Soybean meal, urea or DAC added to basal 10.1% protein, corn-soybean meal diet to provide 4% added crude protein (NX6.25).
(Table 2). Other nitorgenous compounds measured (urea, creatinine, and ammonia) were in trace and non-significant amounts. No significant difference was observed between the urea- and DAC-fed hens with respect to nitrogen retention and fecal components. These data, together with the results on production data obtained in our studies (Kazemi and Balloun, unpublished data), indicate that these forms of NPN exert their influence similarly.
Nitrogen retention was reduced by more than 50% when urea and DAC were included in the ration at 4% protein equivalent (Table 2). Since 99.0% of the nitrogen of DAC is absorbed by laying hens (Shannon et al., 1969), it seems that the limiting factor in NPN utilization is nitrogen deposition rather than nitrogen absorption. Only fecal uric acid and creatine concentrations increased in NPN-fed birds compared with hens fed soybean meal diets
Hawk, P. B., B. L. Oser and W. H. Summerson, 1954. Practical Physiological Chemistry. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. Richardson, C. E., 1959. The effect of dietary protein and energy level upon the nitrogen components in the urine of domestic hen. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. Louisiana State University Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Shannon, D. W. F., R. Blair and J. P. F. D'mello, 1969. Utilization of ammonium nitrogen by the adult hen. Br. Poultry Sci. 10: 381-383. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th ed. The Iowa University Press, Ames, Iowa.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1479) country is chosen by an impartial ballot of member countries and the individual or group of individuals who win the Award are chosen by the successful country. The trophy, in the form of a silver gilt world holding a silver egg, is held by the winner for one year and a miniature silver gilt egg on a plinth is also presented to the winner. Israel was selected in the 1970 ballot and the Israel Egg and Poultry Board selected the Cooperative, Moshav of Beth-Chanan, as the 1971 winner. The Moshav of Beth-Chanan, founded in 1930, is a co-operative of 360 people in about 100 families, who own their own holdings and work their farms for their own profit, but operate on a cooperative, communal basis, their feed mill, hatchery, egg packing plant, citrus fruit plant, school, surgery, cinema/theatre, and supermarket. There are 81 holdings with hens for egg produc-
tion, with an average of 800 to 1,000 birds per holding. The breed of layer is a White Leghorn X New Hampshire cross, the chicks being supplied by the Moshav's own hatchery. The average rate of lay is 200 plus per annum, and the mortality is very low. The production from some 70,000 to 80,000 layers is collected daily and taken by the farmers to the packing station, where the eggs are candled and graded in the normal way, and delivered to markets the same day. Eggs for the local market are not boxed but carried in keyes trays. Those designated for further afield are packed in wooden boxes. Each egg is stamped with the Moshav's identifying mark. The Moshav's annual quota is 16.5 million egg output. This would have been higher but for the fact that, in 1959, all egg quotas were reduced by 25 percent to allow new settlers on the frontiers to
(Continued on page 1486)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Arizona on June 7, 2016
REFERENCES
RESULTS
1480
EFFECT OF UREA AND DIAMMONIUM CITRATE ON FECAL COMPONENTS OF CHICKEN HENS 1 R. KAZEMI AND S. L. BALLOUN Animal Science Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010 (Received for publication March 22, 1972) ABSTRACT Uric acid and creatine concentrations in excreta increased in hens fed urea or diammonium citrate (DAC) compared with excreta of hens fed corn-soybean meal diets. Nitrogen retention was reduced by more than 50% by adding urea or DAC to the diet at 4% crude protein equivalent. POULTRY SCIENCE 51: 1480-1481,
EXPERIMENTAL An experimental low-protein ration was formulated (Table 1) and DAC or soybean meal was added at 4% protein equivalent (N X 6.25), replacing cellulose on an equal weight basis. Rations were isonitrogenous (14.14;% crude protein) and isocaloric (2880 Kcal. M.E./kg.). Nine laying pullets (Welp-line) were randomly distributed among the three experimental diets. The rations were fed for 72 hours, and all excreta collected in a tray lined with aluminum foil and containing 5% boric acid. The droppings were collected at 36- and 72-hour intervals and placed in a 4°C. cooling room to retard 1
Journal Paper No. J-7199 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1721.
TABLE 1.—Composition of laying rations Ingredients Ground yellow corn Soybean meal (49% protein) Soybean oil Dicalcium phosphate Limestone 1 Salt mixture Vitamin mixture 2 Urea Diammonium citrate Soybean meal Cellulose
% 73.00 8.00 Variable 2.50 6.00 0.50 0.50 Variable Variable Variable Variable
1 Supplied the following minerals per kg. of diet: NaCl, 4.5 g.; Mn, 88 mg.; Zn, 19 mg.; Fe, 14 mg.; Cu, 2.2 mg.; I 2 , 1.2 mg.; Co, 0.14 mg. 2 Supplied the following vitamins per kg. of diet: A, 80001.U.; D 3 , 15001.C.U.; B 2 , 5 mg.; Bi2, 5 meg.; pantothenic acid, 5 mg.; niacin, 15 mg.; choline, 325 mg.
chemical and microbial action. A blank tray also was used to check evaporation rate and to determine the proper dilution factor. The excreta was thoroughly homogenized, and a sample centrifuged at 10,000 r.p.m. for 10 minutes. The supernatant layer was saved for the modified determinations of uric acid, creatine, and creatinine (Richardson, 1959) and ammonia and urea (Hawk et al., 1954). Nitrogen retention was studied by determining nitrogen in the ration and fecal excreta by the standard macro- and micro-Kjeldahl methods, respectively. Data were analyzed statistically according to Snedecor and Cochran (1967).
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Arizona on June 7, 2016
There are numerous studies on the utilization of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) by poultry. The literature, however, is deficient with respect to information about the excretory products of laying hens fed diets containing non-protein nitrogen. Because of the inferior response of laying hens to urea and diammonium citrate (DAC) in our previous studies (Kazemi and Balloun, unpublished data), and because of the lack of published information on the effect of NPN on excretory products, the present study was conducted.
1972
1481
RESEARCH NOTES TABLE 2.—Effect of dietary NPN on nitrogen retention and fecal excretory components Diet 1 Soybean Meal Urea DAC
Nitrogen Retention (%)
Uric Acid in excreta (mg./ml.)
Creatine in excreta (mg./ml.)
48 19 20
57 219 219
0.48 1.53 1.71
1 Soybean meal, urea or DAC added to basal 10.1% protein, corn-soybean meal diet to provide 4% added crude protein (NX6.25).
(Table 2). Other nitorgenous compounds measured (urea, creatinine, and ammonia) were in trace and non-significant amounts. No significant difference was observed between the urea- and DAC-fed hens with respect to nitrogen retention and fecal components. These data, together with the results on production data obtained in our studies (Kazemi and Balloun, unpublished data), indicate that these forms of NPN exert their influence similarly.
Nitrogen retention was reduced by more than 50% when urea and DAC were included in the ration at 4% protein equivalent (Table 2). Since 99.0% of the nitrogen of DAC is absorbed by laying hens (Shannon et al., 1969), it seems that the limiting factor in NPN utilization is nitrogen deposition rather than nitrogen absorption. Only fecal uric acid and creatine concentrations increased in NPN-fed birds compared with hens fed soybean meal diets
Hawk, P. B., B. L. Oser and W. H. Summerson, 1954. Practical Physiological Chemistry. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. Richardson, C. E., 1959. The effect of dietary protein and energy level upon the nitrogen components in the urine of domestic hen. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. Louisiana State University Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Shannon, D. W. F., R. Blair and J. P. F. D'mello, 1969. Utilization of ammonium nitrogen by the adult hen. Br. Poultry Sci. 10: 381-383. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th ed. The Iowa University Press, Ames, Iowa.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1479) country is chosen by an impartial ballot of member countries and the individual or group of individuals who win the Award are chosen by the successful country. The trophy, in the form of a silver gilt world holding a silver egg, is held by the winner for one year and a miniature silver gilt egg on a plinth is also presented to the winner. Israel was selected in the 1970 ballot and the Israel Egg and Poultry Board selected the Cooperative, Moshav of Beth-Chanan, as the 1971 winner. The Moshav of Beth-Chanan, founded in 1930, is a co-operative of 360 people in about 100 families, who own their own holdings and work their farms for their own profit, but operate on a cooperative, communal basis, their feed mill, hatchery, egg packing plant, citrus fruit plant, school, surgery, cinema/theatre, and supermarket. There are 81 holdings with hens for egg produc-
tion, with an average of 800 to 1,000 birds per holding. The breed of layer is a White Leghorn X New Hampshire cross, the chicks being supplied by the Moshav's own hatchery. The average rate of lay is 200 plus per annum, and the mortality is very low. The production from some 70,000 to 80,000 layers is collected daily and taken by the farmers to the packing station, where the eggs are candled and graded in the normal way, and delivered to markets the same day. Eggs for the local market are not boxed but carried in keyes trays. Those designated for further afield are packed in wooden boxes. Each egg is stamped with the Moshav's identifying mark. The Moshav's annual quota is 16.5 million egg output. This would have been higher but for the fact that, in 1959, all egg quotas were reduced by 25 percent to allow new settlers on the frontiers to
(Continued on page 1486)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Arizona on June 7, 2016
REFERENCES
RESULTS