manufacturing of a slow-release non-protein nitrogen and evaluation of its use in ruminant nutrition

the possibility of manufacturing and effects of a slow release non-protein nitrogen product on ruminant nutrition were evaluated in two separate experiments. in first experiment, making of slow release component was followed by connecting branched carbon chain to the molecule of urea to reduce the degree of solubility. then, the sample product was analyzed to assess its chemical structure, and also physical and chemical properties. in second experiment, in an in-vivo study, rumen fermentation characteristics, digestibility of feed, microbial protein production and nitrogen balance of produced compound were evaluated and compared with conventional use of urea and also a diet without non-protein nitrogen source. for this, four rumen fistulated adult sheep were used in change over latin square experimental design. infrared and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and physical and chemical properties were considered as indicators of the formation of the desired compound. our data showed that using the slow release product in the diet reduced the nitrogen concentration and altered the amount and ratio of volatile fatty acids as well as ph values in the rumen. feed intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ndf and adf as well as microbial protein production were not affected by the use of slow released product but there were significant differences between diets in relation to the nitrogen digestibility and nitrogen balance (p