The association of maize silage with urea: the effect on the ammonia content of the rumen fluid, the N flow in the duodenum, the nitrogen and energy balances and the milk production.

In different experiments, the nutritive value of maize silage associated with urea was compared with that of the same forage without any N supplement. The ammonia concentration in the rumen liquor was measured with two dry cows fitted with a permanent rumen cannula. Urea was rapidly hydrolysed in the rumen and gave rise to high ammonia concentrations. The control diet did not supply enough fermentable nitrogen to the ruminal flora. The duodenal N flow was measured with two dry cows fitted with a re-entrant cannula at 10 cm from the pylorus. When increasing amounts of urea were fed, the duodenal N flow initially increased to a maximum, but it leveled off with higher amounts of urea in the diet. With 13 cows in the second part of lactation, the feeding of urea increased the nitrogen balance of the animals and the metabolizable energy density of the rations. However, the milk production and the milk protein secretion were only slightly enhanced.