title: Metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus).
abstract: The metabolic fecal nitrogen and digestibility estimates in the grasscutter were determined using 12 captive-bred adult animals fed with four experimental diets differing primarily in crude protein content using nitrogen balance trial approach. Grasscutters required 343.5 mg N kg(-0.75) d(-1) of nitrogen to meet maintenance requirements, which were met on diets containing 7.4% crude protein. The true digestibility of nitrogen was moderate (52%) but within the range for eutherians. Dry matter intake increased with decreasing dietary nitrogen content, suggesting that animals on nitrogen-deficient diets displayed appreciable compensatory intake. Metabolic fecal nitrogen was 3.5 g N kg(-1) dry matter intake, and endogenous urinary nitrogen was 257.5 mg N kg(-0.75) d(-1). The low value of metabolic fecal nitrogen found for grasscutters affected the dry matter intake required for nitrogen balance, and it may allow grasscutters to exploit nitrogen poor diets.
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Animal Research Institute, P. O. Box AH 20, Achimota, Ghana. nhyirapapa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emmanuel K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Adu
authors.forename: Ebenezer K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Awotwi
authors.forename: Kofi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amaning-Kwarteng
authors.forename: Bawa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Awumbila
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen