C. Devendra

Abstract

The protein requirement for maintenance of 30 adult indigenous sheep of Malaysia of approximately 22 to 23 kg, live weight was determined in nitrogen balance trials. Ten treatments were used, five each on 20 and 30% rice straw levels respectively'. Within each level of rice straw, five crude protein levels were used: 6, 8, 10. 12 and 14% with the dietarv nitogen coming exclusively from urea. The EUN was determined to be 92.7 mg./kg.0.75 from the regression equation y = 0.0927 + 0.2728X, r = 0.443 (N.S.). The MFN was 0.645 9./100 g. DMI and the regression equation Y = 0.6450 + 0.0609X, r = 0.713 (N.S.). The BV was 73.6%. Using the factorial method of determining the protein requirements for maintenance, the mean DCP requirement was found to be 8.45 ± 0.54 g./day for sheep with a mean live weight of 22.5 kg. The crude protein intake was significantly correlated (r = 0.972, P<0.01) to DCP. The basal metabolism of sheep weighing 25 kg was estimated to be 725 kcal./day or 29.0 kcal./kg. This value is considerably lower than the requirement recommended for sheep in a temperate environment at the same live weight, and confirms other reports of a similar tendency of sheep and other ruminants in the tropics. A high efficiency of N utilisation is apparent, which is associated with low endogenous losses and relatively high biological values for proteins. The significance of these findings and the need for sustained research into feeding standards applicable to the tropics is discussed.

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