温度和高脂食物对黑线仓鼠代谢产热和体脂累积的影响

能量代谢的适应性调节是小型哺乳动物应对环境季节性变化的主要策略之一。为探讨不同温度下动物在代谢产热能量支出与脂肪累积之间的权衡策略,以成年雄性黑线仓鼠为研究对象开展了3 个实验:实验1 将动物驯化于高脂和低脂食物;实验2 将动物暴露于低温(5℃)和暖温(30℃);实验3 将饲喂高脂食物的动物暴露于低温。以食物平衡法测定摄食量、摄入能和消化率,以开放式氧气分析仪测定代谢产热,以索氏抽提法测定脂肪含量。结果发现,取食高脂食物的黑线仓鼠摄食量显著减少,但脂肪累积显著增加;暖温下摄食量显著减少,但体脂含量显著增加,低温下摄食量显著升高,但体脂含量显著减少;饲喂高脂食物的黑线仓鼠在低温下摄入能显著增加,非颤抖性产热增强,但体脂含量显著降低。结果表明高脂食物对黑线仓鼠体脂累积的影响与环境温度有关,低温诱导脂肪动员,暖温促进脂肪贮存;低温下黑线仓鼠增加能量摄入不能完全补偿用于产热的能量支出,导致脂肪动员增加;暖温下代谢产热降低是脂肪累积的主要因素;与能量摄入相比代谢产热的能量支出在体脂累积的适应性变化中发挥更重要的作用。     

绿翅鸭、琵嘴鸭、斑嘴鸭越冬期的生存能

在野鸭越冬期逐旬测定了绿翅鸭、琵嘴鸭、斑嘴鸭笼养下的生存能。结果表明,三种野鸭越冬期每天摄食量分别为绿翅鸭32.4克,琵嘴鸭54.9克、斑嘴鸭80.2克。食物利用率依次为75.6％;73.7％;73.8％。生存代谢能依次为102.7千卡/只·天;173.6千卡/只·天;248.2千卡/只·天。总能量的摄入有三个高峰,分别出现在秋季迁来后、冬季寒潮后和春季迁飞前。 三种野鸭越冬期体重呈现出二低二高的变化形式。1983年与1963年野外野鸭体重相比较,绿翅鸭平均降低了20％,斑嘴鸭降低了12％,表明太湖湖泊生态系统对野鸭的栖息越冬有恶化的趋势。 本文分三个季节拟合了体重与生存能的关系式,比较了不同季节生存能与静止代谢能的差异,表明野鸭是通过提高体廓的隔热能力,增加体内能量的储存以及减少活动和生产的能量消耗来渡过寒冷又缺少食物的冬季的。     

赤腹松鼠（Callosciurus erythraeus）对林木剥皮危害的初步研究

浙江省被松鼠剥皮危害的树木有马尾松、杉木、柳杉、湿地松、银杏等计47种,以针叶树最严重。危害林木的主要种类为赤腹松鼠嘉兴亚种(Callosciurus erythraeus styani)。据1987—1989年在759块标准样地12947株树木调查,平均被害率为54.44％,被害树木中死亡的占13.3％。 松鼠剥食树皮从秋季开始,以2—3月最严重,这与此时松鼠食物供应不足有关。松鼠剥皮危害程度也与林分组合有关,混交林较单纯林受害率低。此外与食物供需丰歉也有关系。     

城市公园中赤腹松鼠的家域特征及昼间活动规律初探

2015年12月至2016年5月,对上海动物园内活动的9只赤腹松鼠进行无线电遥测,应用Homing法进行空间定位,基于最小凸多边形（MCP）和95%固定 核空间（95%Kernel）模型估算城市绿地中赤腹松鼠的家域面积、空间分布特征及个体间的重叠情况,同时记录赤腹松鼠的昼间行为规律。赤腹松鼠 家域面积平均值为12376（MCP）~18146 m²（95%Kernel）,雌雄个体间家域面积无显著差异（Independent-sample test,t= -0.101,P=0.922）。 赤腹松鼠冬季家域面积与春季家域面积间无显著差异（One way ANOVA,MCP：F=3.900,P=0.070;95%FK：F=3.566,P=0.081）。部分赤腹松鼠家域 间存在重叠,冬季重叠指数0.36~0.63,春季重叠指数0.02~0.43。赤腹松鼠的昼间行为以移动（29.4%）、取食（25.1%）和休息行为（24.7%）为主 。在不同季节,赤腹松鼠的取食行为发生显著变化（One way ANOVA,F=119.268,P<0.001）,冬季取食行为发生频率最高（33.3%）,夏季最低 （16.4%）;领域行为在夏（15.8%）、秋（16.2%）季发生频率较高,春季（5.8%）降低（One way ANOVA,F=140.416,P<0.001）。赤腹松鼠昼间 活动呈“U”型分布,主要集中于05:00—08:00和15:00—18:00,休息主要分布于12:00—13:00。     

人工林赤腹松鼠危害与繁殖关系的初步研究

2000年4月至2003年12月,通过固定样地长期监测及样地外标本采集,对洪雅县人工林赤腹松鼠危害与繁殖的关系进行了初步研究,以期为人工林赤腹松鼠危害机理研究和危害控制提供科学依据.研究结果表明,洪雅县赤腹松鼠年均危害率呈上升趋势,但时空变化较大.危害全年都可能发生,但主要发生在3～5月,4月最严重.从赤腹松鼠繁殖情况看,雌鼠主要在3～4月和7～8月繁殖,4月繁殖指数最高;雄鼠基本全年都有睾丸下垂,即处在繁殖期.赤腹松鼠春季的危害高峰期和繁殖高峰期一致,繁殖期赤腹松鼠对食物能量和巢材的需求是产生春季危害高峰的主要原因.     

高寒草甸生态系统艾虎种群能量动态的研究

动物种群能流的研究具有重要的意义。为阐明食肉动物与食草动物能量的相互关系,我们于1982年4—10月在青海省门源县海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区,测定了艾虎对食物的消化率和同化率,同时统计其密度,初步估计通过其种群的能量流。 艾虎全年平均摄入干物质为0.125克/克体重/日;摄入总能为0.709大卡/克体重/日,同化能、粪便和尿的排出能分别占其80.18％、14.58％和5.25％。全年摄入能为1.157×10~5大卡/公顷,通过种群能流为0.917×10~5大卡/公顷/年。 上述结果表明,通过艾虎种群的能量流是比较少的。因此,保护艾虎,增加其数量,是高寒草甸生态系统改造的任务之一。     

赤腹松鼠一新亚种

在查对中国南部赤腹松鼠标本(401号)的基础上,发现分布于云南东北部昭通地区的赤腹松鼠与赤腹松鼠其他亚种有明显的区别.毛色特征:背部棕黄色,背中央区域稍带黑色;腹部至前胸栗红色;喉、颏部棕灰色;尾毛背腹无明显差异,尾毛末端棕黄、次末端黑,尾末端具棕黄色(稍黄白)区域;前后足背棕褐色,稍带黑色.进一步对头骨可量性状数据进行分析(差异系数),结果表明:分布于该地区的赤腹松鼠分别与赤腹松鼠其他13个亚种两两之间至少有一项差异系数大于1.28,系一新亚种Callosciurus erythraeus zhaotongensis subsp.nov..     

四川洪雅县赤腹松鼠的食性观察

2008年1月至2010年8月,在主要树种为柳杉Cryptomeria fortunei的四川省洪雅县林场中,采用直接观察和胃容物分析法对赤腹松鼠Callosciurus erythraeus食性进行研究.发现赤腹松鼠取食的植物共有14科23种,如小柱悬钩子Rubus columellaris和板栗Castanea mollissima的果实,油茶Camellia oleifera的花及柳杉和杉木Cunninghamia lanceolata的树皮.结合往年文献,已知确认洪雅县赤腹松鼠取食的植物共28种.根据胃容物分析,果实种子的比例为秋季(75.60％±0.53％)＞夏季(63.32％±0.69％)＞冬季(34.02％±0.43％)＞春季(14.35％±0.71％),差异显著(P＜0.05);而树皮在夏季和秋季分别为7.32％±0.50％和8.30％±0.87％,显著低于冬季和春季的28.13％±0.72％和28.71％ ±0.84％ (P ＜0.05).根据结果分析,赤腹松鼠的主要食物是植物的果实种子,在冬春取食较多的树皮可能与果实种子短缺有关.     

人工林赤腹松鼠春夏季活动节律与行为特征观察

2009年3～8月,通过观察和运用无线电遥测对四川洪雅县人工林赤腹松鼠活动节律和行为特征进行了研究.结果 显示,赤腹松鼠为昼行型动物,其春夏活动节律呈晨昏双高峰型.春夏季雄性赤腹松鼠日活动时间分别为5.00 h/d±1.39 h/d(占日长的39.62%)和7.54 h/d±1.20 h/d(占日长的55.12%),雌性夏季日活动时间为6.48 h/d±0.98 h/d,占日长的46.82%.雄性赤腹松鼠春季活动强度为37.38%±8.75%,夏季雌雄性活动强度分别为46.30%±7.04%和53.85%±8.60%.雄性赤腹松鼠春夏季之间以及夏季雌雄之间的日活动时间和活动强度均存在显著差异.赤腹松鼠清晨出巢及傍晚回巢时间与日出日落显著正相关.春夏季赤腹松鼠的行为以取食为主,占日活动行为时间分配的比例分别为86.23%和79.54%.赤腹松鼠的活动节律和活动时间办受天气状况、日照时间等因素的影响.     

鲮鱼最适生长的营养素需要量研究

应用正交方法配制18种试验饲料,测其各营养素对鲮鱼的生长比速、肥满度及体蛋白质增重率作用的大小为:蛋白质>糖>混合无机盐>脂肪,其中蛋白质(P<0.005)和糖(除肥满度外,P<0.025)为主要的营养素;脂肪和混合无机盐,在本试验条件下,其作用并不明显(P>0.05)。每100克鱼(湿重),每日的最适生长的营养素需要量为:蛋白质0.70—0.80克、糖0.50克、脂肪0.10克,以及饲料中含14％的混合无机盐和17％的纤维素。虽体脂肪和水份的含量与营养素脂肪的水平有一定关系,但显著地受营养素蛋白质水平的影响(分别为P<0.025和P<0.01)。体脂肪随营养素蛋白质水平的增加而增高;水份则随营养素蛋白质水平的增加而下降。体脂肪(Y)与水份(X)之间存在负的相关关系,其关系式为:Y=60.3063-0.7643X。体脂肪和水份的含量,占鱼体重的78.33±0.25％。用无蛋白饲料饲养试验的结果,鲮鱼的体氮维持量为:14毫克氮/100克鱼(湿重)/日。     

Effects of pressed beet pulp silage inclusion in maize-based rations on performance of high-yielding dairy cows and parameters of rumen fermentation

Beet pulp contains high amounts of pectins that can reduce the risk of rumen disorders compared to using feedstuffs high in starch. The objective was to study the effects of inclusion of ensiled pressed beet pulp in total mixed rations (TMR) for high-yielding dairy cows. Two TMR containing no or about 20% (on dry matter (DM) basis) beet pulp silage were used. The beet pulp silage mainly replaced maize silage and corn cob silage. The TMR were intentionally equal in the concentrations of energy and utilisable crude protein (CP) at the duodenum. TMR were fed to 39 and 40 dairy cows, respectively, for 118 days. The average daily milk yield was about 43 kg/day. No significant differences in milk yield and milk fat or milk protein content were detected. DM intake of cows was significantly reduced by the inclusion of beet pulp silage (23.0 v. 24.5 kg/day). However, a digestibility study, separately conducted with sheep, showed a significantly higher organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy concentration for the TMR that contained beet pulp silage. In vitro gas production kinetics indicated that the intensity of fermentation was lower in the TMR that contained beet pulp silage. In vitro production of short-chain fatty acids, studied using a Rusitec, did not differ between the TMR. However, the inclusion of beet pulp silage in the ration caused a significant reduction in the efficiency of microbial CP synthesis in vitro. The amino acid profile of microbial protein remained unchanged. It was concluded that beet pulp silage has specific effects on ruminal fermentation that may depress feed intake of cows but improve digestibility. An inclusion of beet pulp silage of up to 20% of DM in rations for high-yielding dairy cows is possible without significant effects on milk yield and milk protein or milk fat.     

Proper energy evaluation of commercial laboratory animal diets based on digestibility and metabolizable energy values

The energy values of commercial laboratory animal diets have been customarily calculated by applying physiological fuel values (PFV) in this country. In order to ascertain accuracy of this application, apparent digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), carbohydrate (NFE + crude fiber) and nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy (MEn) of 10 commercial diets were determined using rats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, respectively, and true digestibility of crude protein and crude fat of 12 feed ingredients was determined using rats. Apparent digestibility of the nutrients in the diets decreased with an increase in the crude fiber content of the diets. MEn values of the diets ranged between 2.18 and 3.75 kcal per g dry matter depending upon the crude fiber content of the diets. The energy values of the 10 diets calculated using PFV values of 4 kcal/g for protein and carbohydrate and 9 kcal/g for fat were compared with each MEn. The calculated values were 1.04 to 1.39 times higher than those of the respective MEn. All of the diets and most feed ingredients did not show high digestibility of nutrients assumed for the application of PFV. Therefore, it is concluded that application of PFV to the diets results in over-estimation of energy values and use of PFV for commercial laboratory diets in our country is not warranted. It is advisable to use MEn to evaluate energy value of commercial laboratory animal diets.     

Limits to food intake and fiber utilization in the prairie vole,Microtus ochrogaster: effects of food quality and energy need

We fed prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) rat chow diluted with variable amounts of -cellulose to determine 1) how much fiber the voles could tolerate in their diet; 2) changes in food intake and digestibility of dry matter and of fiber; 3) the extent to which voles utilized fiber as an energy source; and 4) whether any of these variables differed between groups of animals maintained at 5 or 22°C. Fiber content of the diets ranged from 20 to 84%. Animals held at 5°C maintained body mass through a diet containing 69% fiber, while animals held at 22°C maintained body mass through the 84% fiber diet. Dry matter intake increased with fiber level from 9.3 to 15.0 g·day^-1 for animals at 5°C and from 5.6 to 14.0 g·day^-1 for animals at 22°C; intake on the highest fiber diet eaten by either group was not different. Dry matter digestibility decreased significantly as the fiber in the diets increased, but was not affected by temperature treatments. Digestible dry matter intake for each group remained constant regardless of diet quality, but on each diet digestible dry matter intake for animals at 5°C was significantly higher than that of the animals held at 22°C. Digestibility of the fiber portion of the experimental diets remained constant as food quality decreased, so the percent of daily energy need met by fiber utilization increased with higher food intake. On the lowest quality diet each group tolerated, fiber digestion provided approximately 42 and 68% of the energy needs of voles at 5 and 22°C, respectively.Abbreviations BM body mass - BMR basal metabolic rate - DE digestible energy - DM dry matter - DMD dry matter digestibility - DDMI digestible dry matter intake - MR metabolic rate - NDF neutral detergent fiber (=cell walls) - NDS neutral detergent solubles (=cell solubles) - SEM standard error of mean - T _a ambient temperature     

Nutritional estimate of populations of some wild free-ranging African ungulates in grassland (Nechisar national park, Ethiopia) in dry season

The amount and nutritive value of forage plants, diet composition, digestibility of dry matter and nutrients were recorded for zebra. Grant's gazelle, Swayne's hartebeest and hippopotamus in November-December 1991 Besides, daily egest of feces, the level of food and nutrient consumption, energy and protein requirements were recorded for zebra and Grant's gazelle The digestibility of pasture forage was determined as a ratio of lignin concentration in food to the concentration m feces (lignin tracer technique), a daily intake was calculated on the basis of the daily feces egest Protein percentage m the diet of zebra and hartebeest consuming dry parts of grasses did not exceed 5% Gazelle diet consists of green parts of plants and included 18% of protein The digestibility of dry matter in nonruminants (zebra, hippopotamus) was 40-45%, in hartebeest - 50%, in gazelle - 60% Due to the abundance of dry grasses (3 7 ton ha^-1) the daily food consumption of zebra was high - 7 2 kg ind^-1 (dry weight), the metabolizable energy intake (ME) being 51 MJ Adult gazelles consumed 15-25 kg ind^-1 of food and 14-24 MJ of ME The energy requirements of adult males and non-lactating females of zebras and gazelles (48 and 13 MJ respectively) were met, the energy balance berig negative for lactating animals The daily protein requirement was not met in zebra (392-704 g md^-1 vs 134 g ind^-1 of intake) and in lactating gazelles (250 g ind^-1 vs 197 g md^-1) Non-lactating gazelles consume sufficient amount of both energy and protein due to the high feeding selectivity of the species and thanks to the abundance of burnt areas with young green after-grass m the dry period     

Saturated fat supplemented in the form of triglycerides decreased digestibility and reduced performance of dairy cows as compared to calcium salt of fatty acids

The two most popular rumen-protected fatty acid supplements in dairy cow rations are calcium salts of palm oil fatty acid calcium salts of palm oil fatty acid (CSFA) and prilled saturated fatty acids (SFAs). The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of supplementing SFA in the form of triglycerides (TSFA), as compared to CSFA, on yields, efficiency and diet digestibility in high-yielding dairy cows. Twenty-eight (14 cows in each group) multiparous cows were fed a basal diet supplemented (on DM basis) with either 12 g/kg TSFA (~350 g/cow per day – contained 980 g/kg fat; 882.3 g/kg SFAs) or 14 g/kg CSFA (~440 g/cow per day – contained 800 g/kg fat; 566.4 g/kg SFAs). The supplement amounts in the diet were balanced according to fat content. Rumen samples were taken for measurements of ammonia and volatile fatty acids concentrations, and fecal samples were taken for digestibility measurements. The CSFA cows produced 3% higher milk yields (47.6 v. 46.2 kg/day; P < 0.0001) and 4.7% higher 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM; 44.7 v. 42.7 kg/day; P = 0.02) than the TSFA cows. No difference in milk-fat content was observed, but milk-protein content was higher in the TSFA than CSFA cows. Yields of fat and protein were similar, but lactose yields were higher in TSFA cows. There were no differences in dry matter intake or efficiency calculations between groups. The ruminal ammonia concentrations were similar between groups, whereas acetate concentrations and acetate : propionate ratio were greater for CSFA than TSFA cows. The apparent total-tract digestibility of dry (P < 0.0007) and organic matters (P < 0.0003), fat (P < 0.0001), NDF and ADF (P = 0.02) were lower in the TSFA v. CSFA cows. In conclusion, the CSFA-supplemented cows produced 3% higher milk and 4.7% higher 4% FCM than the TSFA cows. However, TSFA supplementation did not depress milk-protein content. The apparent total-tract digestibility was lower for all dietary components in the TSFA cows, which was probably due to the effects of both degree of saturation and triglyceride form of the TSFA supplement. Considering that diets were balanced according to the fat content of the supplements, the lower yields of milk and FCM observed in the TSFA than CSFA cows were likely due to the lower digestibility of the fat and other nutrients in the TSFA cows, which might have negatively influenced the dietary energy content.     

Soybean oil and beef tallow in dry extruded diets for adult dogs

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of two different fat sources (soybean oil (SO) and beef tallow (BT)) in dry extruded dog diets on the intake of food and metabolizable energy (ME), on faecal characteristics and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy. Ten adult dogs of different breeds were used in a Latin square design. Five experimental diets were designed from a basal diet. A Control diet was coated with 1% SO and four other diets were obtained by coating the basal diet with 6.5% and 13% of SO or BT. The Control, 6.5% and 13% coated diets contained approximately 8.5%, 15% and 20% fat, respectively. The dogs had similar dry matter (DM) intakes and, consequently, higher ME intakes with an increased fat content for both sources (p < 0.05). Fat digestibility was highest for Diet SO13% (p < 0.05). The ATTD of DM and organic matter was highest (p < 0.05) for Diets SO13% and BT13%. Fat coating improved the faecal score, especially for Diet BT13%. The dietary ratios of protein:fat:carbohydrate [% of ME] were close to AAFCO’s estimates. For SO a higher ATTD (99.1%) and ME content (38.88 MJ/kg) was estimated than for BT (ATTD 92.9% and 36.37 MJ ME/kg). Both SO and BT can comprise up to 13% of the diet. However, SO was more susceptible to leaking from the kibbles with the coating method applied.     

The intake and digestion of maize silage-based diets by dairy cows and sheep

Six lactating cows, 6 dry cows and 6 wether sheep were fed ad libitum on diets of maize silage, maize silage plus lucerne, or maize silage plus lucerne plus wheat. Faeces and urine collections allowed for the determination of digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen, and balances of nitrogen and water.

Voluntary feed intakes were highest and digestibility values were lowest in lactating cows. The addition of lucerne reduced organic matter digestibility in dry cows, but not in lactating cows or sheep. The addition of wheat decreased intake in dry cows and sheep, but not in lactating cows. Production of milk, protein, solids-not-fat and total solids increased with dietary quality, but there was a depression in milk fat content as a result of wheat supplementation.

The ranking of the 3 diets on the basis of feed intake differed with each class of livestock, but lactating cows and sheep gave the same ranking on the basis of organic matter digestibility.     

Nutrient constraints in the feeding ecology of an omnivore in a seasonal environment

Summary Nutrient requirements of adult, nonreproductive, omnivorous antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus) were compared with the nutritional value of their food resources. It was found that nutrient constraints would be important factors in ground squirrel feeding ecology primarily in winter. Potentially important constraints were the requirement for water and nitrogen, and a digestive requirement that average dry matter digestibility of the diet exceed ca. 50%. An unlikely constraint was the requirement for any specific mineral. A linear programming model was used to determine potential diets ground squirrels could consume which satisfied these nutritional requirements and also the ground squirrel's daily energy requirements. During spring ground squirrels could be strict herbivores, but during winter before winter rains ground squirrels had to eat some arthropods to satisfy water requirements.These ground squirrels are not energy maximizers because they spend only one third of their activity period feeding and do not accumulate excess energy as fat. Thus, optimum diets were predicted for winter and spring assuming the goal of feeding time minimization. The model correctly predicted that in wintertime ground squirrels would be primarily granivorous but would consume about 20% arthropods, and that they would switch to herbivory in springtime. Ground squirrels, however, selected a wider dietary range than predicted in both winter and spring. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include an inappropriate assumption that ground squirrels forage for food classes nonsimultaneously, and the possibility that ground squirrels employ sampling as part of their foraging behavior.     

Effects of fibre on digestibility and passage time in callithricidae

The effects of fibre in a pelleted diet on food intake, digestibility of crude fibre, dry matter and energy, on passage time and consistency of faeces were studied in 2 species of Callithricidae, Callithrix jacchus and Saguinus fuscicollis. Coarse cellulose, microcellulose, wheat bran and shrimp meal (chitin = crude fibre) were tested in diets containing 2,4 and 6% total crude fibre, respectively. Digestibility and passage time were determined by inclusion of 0.5% Cr2O3 in the diet. Both celluloses had little influence on the digestibility of energy and dry matter. Digestibility of crude fibre was very low. Wheat bran led to evident depression of energy and dry matter digestibility. High digestibility of crude fibre occurred at the higher levels of inclusion in the diet. Shrimp meal was highly digested with little influence on digestibility of energy and dry matter, indicating considerable degradation of chitin. Wheat bran showed a marked effect, while microcellulose had no effect on passage time, consistency and volume of faeces.     

The nutritional value for sheep of molasses and condensed molasses solubles

The nutritional value of cane molasses and condensed molasses solubles (CMS, a highnitrogen by-product from the fermentation of beet molasses) was studied in two metabolism experiments with sheep.Nitrogen balance and the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and acid detergent fibre in a barley-based control diet were not affected when 10 or 20% barley dry matter was replaced by either molasses or CMS dry matter. The digestibility of crude protein was significantly increased by CMS, because it increased the crude protein content of the rations. There was a positive linear relationship between crude protein and digestible protein as a percentage of the dry matter. The digestibility of nitrogen-free extract was depressed by the inclusion of molasses or CMS. Digestibility of energy was not significantly influenced by the inclusion of molasses at 10 or 20% or CMS at 10% but was depressed by the inclusion of CMS at 20%. The digestible energy of molasses was 82% of that of barley and the digestible energy of CMS was 84% of that of molasses.The extent of fermentation of ration components was studied in sheep with rumen and duodenal re-entrant cannulae. Although the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and gross energy was not affected by 20% molasses or CMS, the concentration of butyric acid in the rumen liquor was significantly increased at the expense of propionic acid. The concentration of ammonia in the rumen was elevated by high nitrogen intake. High concentrations of ammonia in the rumen liquor caused proportional excretion of nitrogen in urine.