Influence of Carbohydrate Solubility on Non-protein Nitrogen Utilization in the Ruminant

Abstract

Although soluble carbohydrates and carbohydrate solubility may sound synonymous, they, in fact, are not when one considers their influence upon the fermentation in the rumen. The former refers to a restricted class of carbohydrates of specified solubility whereas the latter portrays a characteristic of any carbohydrate or group of carbohydrates that often can be modified by pll and concentration as well as by chemical, physical, and microbial processing techniques. As such, the latter characteristic becomes more critical in a discussion of effects on non-protein nitrogen (NPN) utilization. This review is in no way an exhaustive review of the effects of all forms of carbohydrate of NPN utilization. The subject of NPN utilization has been reviewed many times, most recently by Helmer and Bartley (1971). Far too many of the literature citation which could be cited represent repetitive findings which contribute very little definitive or new information to out information bank on NPN utilization.