Aspects of nitrogen utilization in Asiatic water buffalo and Zebu cattle

Abstract

SUMMARYThe results of 62 comparative digestibility and nitrogen balance trials of Asiatic water buffalo and Zebu cattle fed the same roughage or mixed diet were analysed to test for species differences in various nitrogen input-output relationships. The influence of dietary metabolizable energy content on the utilization of dietary or apparently digested nitrogen (ADN) was also investigated.There was no difference between buffaloes and Zebus in their ability to digest dietary nitrogen. The true nitrogen digestibility was calculated to be 81% and the metabolic faecal nitrogen excretion to be 0·36 g N/lOOg dry-matter intake. The buffaloes had lower rates of excretion of urinary nitrogen per unit increase in ADN, and at the same intake of ADN (143 mg/kg live weight/day), they had the higher nitrogen balance: 58v.48 mg/kg live weight/day. Dietary metabolizable energy content did not affect the utilization of digested nitrogen.Estimates of metabolic faecal nitrogen and endogenous urinary nitrogen excretions and of maintenance requirements for digested nitrogen were similar to those of tropical large ruminants reported by other workers. On low-quality (0·8% N) or medium-quality (1·6% N) diets, it was calculated that buffaloes would have nitrogen balances.