Transfer of urea from the blood to the rumen of sheep

Abstract

1. The rate of transfer of plasma urea-nitrogen to rumen ammonia was measured by infusion of ¹⁵NH₄Cl and [¹⁵N]urea into sheep given brome grass (Bromus inermis) or lucerne (Medicago sativa) pellets. Urea was infused into the rumen or abomasum of two sheep given brome grass in order to increase the concentration of rumen ammonia.2. From 6.2 to 9.8 g/d of plasma urea-N were transferred to the rumen of sheep given brome grass pellets and a measurement of 1.3 g nitrogen/d was obtained for a sheep given lucerne pellets. When urea was infused into the rumen of sheep given brome grass pellets the transfer was only 2.8–3.7 g N/d.3. There was a significant negative correlation between the rate of transfer of plasma urea-N to the rumen and the concentration of rumen ammonia.