A novel ammoniation treatment of barley as a strategy to optimize rumen pH, feed degradability and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

BACKGROUND Meeting the energy and nitrogen (N) requirements of high-performing ruminants at same time as avoiding digestive disturbances (i.e. rumen acidosis) is a key priority in ruminant nutrition. The present study evaluated effect cereal ammoniation treatment, which barley grains are combined with urea enzymes that catalyze conversion to ammonia optimize function. Twelve cannulated sheep were randomly divided into two groups fed diet containing 60% ammoniated (AMM) or untreated supplemented (CTL) investigate impact on fermentation feed utilization. RESULTS AMM had higher total N content effective degradable than barely. consistently pH throughout day (6.31 versus 6.03) tended have lower post-prandial peak acetate molar proportion (+5.1%) CTL sheep. environment favored colonization utilization agro-industrial by-products orange pulp) by microbes leading degradability. also tract apparent digestibility (+21.7%) urinary excretion purine derivatives (+34%), suggesting uptake microbial protein synthesis CONCLUSION inclusion represents valid strategy for maintaining within physiological range improving microbes, could positive effects health productivity animals intensive production systems. These findings warrant further studies under conventional farm conditions. © 2021 Authors. Journal Science Food Agriculture published John Wiley & Sons Ltd behalf Society Chemical Industry.