The Influence of Protein Source upon Nitrogen Retention by Sheep

The addition of 0.2 percent methionine to a ration containing 10 percent protein (nitrogen × 6.25) with urea furnishing 40 percent of the total nitrogen significantly increased the nitrogen retained by the lambs used in this experiment. These same lambs utilized egg protein significantly better than linseed meal protein or that synthesized from urea. These results suggest that the quality of protein as fed in the rations of lambs may be of importance under certain conditions. It seems logical to assume that if protein quality has an effect upon the nitrogen retention of lambs that it may have some similar effect upon gains in weight in feed lot operations.