The effect of long-term feeding of higher doses of urea on clinical and biochemical indicators in sheep
Jagos, P.; Dvorák, V.; Illek, J.
Veterinarni Medicina 26(2): 101-107
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0375-8427 PMID: 6787779 Document Number: 174345
During feeding 120 g of urea per head/day to four-year wethers for nine months it was observed that for the whole period the animals accepted the feed with appetite, the rumen motility and body temperature were within the physiological standard. In both groups of animals (three animals experimental and three animals control) a higher breathing frequency was found. In experimental (control) animals the levels were as follows: plasma calcium 2.62 +/- 0.17 mmol . 1(-1) (2.66 +/- 0.16 mmol . 1(-1)), inorganic phosphorus 2.35 +/- 0.33 mmol . 1(-1) (2.40 +/- 0.47 mmol . 1(-1), sodium 148.25 +/- 5.65 mmol . 1(-1) (151.09 +/- 5.71 mmol . 1(-1), potassium 5.02 +/- 0.46 mmol . 1(-1) (5.02 +/- 0.74 mmol . 1(-1)), magnesium 1.00 +/- 0.14 mmol . 1(-1) (0.98 +/- 0.10 mmol . 1(-1)), chlorine 107.86 +/- 12.86 mmol . 1(-1) (106.92 +/- 11.12 mmol . 1(-1)), total protein 69.9 +/- 7.8 g. 1(-1) (70.2 +/- 8.1 g . 1(-1)), glucose 3.97 +/- 0.68 mmol . 1(-1) (4.48 +/- 1.01 mmol . 1(-1)), urea 11.20 +/- 3.23 mmol . 1(-1) (7.61 +/- 1.89 mmol . 1(-1)), osmotic pressure 299.27 +/- 12.91 mosm . kg-1 (298.63 +/- 10.44 mosm . kg-1). By statistical t-test evaluation a significant difference in plasma urea in favour of the experimental animals was found. As to the other followed values, a statistically significant difference between the two groups, and that in favour of the control animals, was found only as regards the pulse rate.