[Protein digestion in ruminant calves].

The influence of various protein sources on N-digestion in forestomachs was investigated with 10 calves of the average age of 12 weeks which were supplied with duodenal re-entrant cannulae. 50 and 100% resp. of the soybean coarse meal-N in the standard ration (A) were replaced by urea-N (B) and lucerne-N (C). The crude protein concentration in the test rations varied between 17 and 19%. In the rumen the average NH3-concentration for rations A, B and C amounted to 7.7, 18.9 and 4.5 mg/100 ml resp., the pH-value was 6.4, 6.8 and 6.3 resp. 2.2, 2.4 and 2.7 g bacteria-N were synthesised per 100 g fermented organic matter. There were significant differences as regards the flow of non-ammonia N measured at the duodenum. Related to N-intake, values of 90, 79 and 104% were registered. 3.7, 3.7 and 4.3 g resp. non-NH3-N per 100 g digested organic matter were found at the duodenum. Under consideration of the high protein level of more than 17% (in the dry matter of the ration) required for this phase of growth, a partial replacement of soybean coarse meal-N by urea-N is of little effectivity. In contrast to this, the complete replacement of soybean protein by lucerne protein could guarantee the protein supply of 12-week-old calves.