Abstract
The effect of cecal ligation on nitrogen (N) utlization (N balance/N intake) and N excretion was investigated in chickens fed on a 10% protein diet or a 10% protein diet plus urea. Daily intake of dietary protein and added urea were 560 and 280N mg per kg body weight, respectively. The ligation of ceca tended to increase N utilization in chickens fed on a 10% protein diet but to decrease it in those fed on the 10% protein diet plus urea. In the ceca-ligated chicken uric acid excretion and ammonia excretion significantly decreased in both dietary groups (P<0.05), but urea excretion increased in chickens fed the 10% protein diet plus urea (P<0.05) to more than 4 times control level (P<0.05) and tended to do so in those fed the 10% protein diet. Blood ammonia, urea and uric acid concentrations were not affected by cecal ligation in either chickens fed the 10% protein diet or the 10% protein diet plus urea. The results suggest that the Ligation of ceca affects N utilization and N excreetion in chickens fed a moderate protein diet in similar manner to those fed a low protein diet except the utilization of dietary urea.
