Influences of dietary sucrose and urea on transfer of endogenous urea to the rumen of sheep and numbers of epithelial bacteria

Abstract

1. The rates of transfer of plasma urea to the rumen of six sheep given brome grass (Bromus inermis) pellets alone or with supplements of sucrose or urea were determined using [¹⁴C]urea and¹⁴C-labelled sodium bicarbonate infusions during three periods.2. The sheep were slaughtered after the third period and samples of rumen epithelium were taken for assessment of numbers of adherent bacteria.3. Maximum transfer (0·31 g nitrogen/h) of urea to the rumen was observed for sheep given supplements of 150 g sucrose/d plus 20 g urea/d. Maximum clearance of plasma urea to the rumen (rate of urea transfer to the rumen per unit plasma urea concentration, 5·8 1/h) was observed for sheep given 300 g sucrose/d.4. Urea clearance to the rumen was negatively related to rumen ammonia concentration; the slope of the relationship was increased with each addition of sucrose to the diet.5. Numbers of facultative bacteria adherent to the rumen epithelium were increased by urea and sucrose supplements.6. The results are discussed in relation to a hypothesis which relates the ureolytic capability of the bacteria adherent to the rumen epithelium to the control of the rate of transfer of urea into the rumen.