METABOLISM OF 14C- AND 15N-LABELLED ACETAMIDE AND ACETYLUREA AS NPN SOURCES

Abstract

Acetamide was degraded in the rumen and was used for bacterial protein synthesis on a high level. Acetylurea was not degraded in the rumen. 15N-labelled urea returned via rumino-hepatic circulation to the rumen after the degradation of acetylurea outside the rumen and served as a nitrogen source for bacterial protein synthesis. Key words: 14C-15N-acetamide, 14C-15N-acetylurea, NPN, bacterial protein, sheep