EFFECT OF SYNCHRONIZATION OF ENERGY AND NITROGEN SUPPLY ON RUMINAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MICROBIAL-GROWTH

The effect of energy and N synchronization in the rumen on microbial growth was investigated. The same daily amount of readily available energy and N sources (19 g of ruminally degradable N/kg of fermentable OM) was supplied intraruminally to sheep, according to different patterns, namely both energy and N as 12-hourly pulse-doses (fast synchronized supply), energy as 12-hourly pulse-doses and N as a continuous infusion (unsynchronized supply), energy as a continuous infusion and N as 12-hourly pulse doses (unsynchronized supply), and both energy and N as continuous infusions (slow synchronized supply). The study was done near maintenance (Exp. 1) and at a higher level of nutrition (Exp. 2). The degree of energy and N synchronization affected neither microbial flow nor efficiency of growth ( P > .2 for energy x N interaction). Continuous infusion of energy resulted in a 17% (P < .05) and 14% (P = .18) higher efficiency of microbial growth than did pulse dosing in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. This coincided with lower (P < .01) ruminal pH and higher (P < .05) ruminal lactic acid concentration for energy pulse-dose treatments. The results suggest that merely improving the degree of synchronization between energy and N release rates in the rumen does not increase microbial yield. Dietary manipulation, rather, should be aimed at first obtaining the most even ruminal energy supply pattern, and then at providing the appropriate amount of ruminally available N. Thereafter some further advantage may be gained in also ensuring a more even N supply pattern, particularly avoiding too rapid a ruminal N release.