Nitrogen retention from dietary urea by ewes in late pregnancy

Abstract

SummaryThree separate nitrogen balance experiments were made in three consecutive years. Comparisons of nitrogen retention were made between late-pregnant (15–20 weeks) Greyface (Border Leicester ♂χ Scottish Blackface ♀) ewes given a basal diet of hay and molassed sugar-beet pulp cubes (SBP, 1·25 em diameter x ca. 3cm length) and when given additional nitrogen supplied as urea contained in molassed sugar-beet pulp cubes (SBPU). Both sugar-beet pulp materials were adequately supplemented with minerals and vitamins. Supplementation with urea significantly increased nitrogen retention.