Metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus)
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Date
2012-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical Animal Health and Production
Abstract
The metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter were determined using 12 captive-bred adult animals fed with four experimental diets differing primarily in crude protein content using nitrogen balance trial approach. Grasscutters required 343.5 mg N kg -0.75 d -1 of nitrogen to meet maintenance requirements, which were met on diets containing 7.4% crude protein. The true digestibility of nitrogen was moderate (52%) but within the range for eutherians. Dry matter intake increased with decreasing dietary nitrogen content, suggesting that animals on nitrogen-deficient diets displayed appreciable compensatory intake. Metabolic fecal nitrogen was 3.5 g N kg -1 dry matter intake, and endogenous urinary nitrogen was 257.5 mg N kg -0.75 d -1. The low value of metabolic fecal nitrogen found for grasscutters affected the dry matter intake required for nitrogen balance, and it may allow grasscutters to exploit nitrogen poor diets. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Description
Keywords
Endogenous urinary nitrogen, Grasscutter, Metabolic fecal nitrogen, Thryonomys swinderianus, True nitrogen digestibility
Citation
Adu, E.K., Awotwi, E.K., Amaning-Kwarteng, K. et al. Trop Anim Health Prod (2012) 44: 881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9982-2