A note on the effect of rape seed oil supplementation on microbial proteinsynthesis in sheep

The effect of rape seed oil on net microbial protein synthesis and other me tabolic parameters was estimated on four rams fitted with rumen cannulas in a 4 x 4 Latin square design consisting of four diets differing in the perc entage of rape seed oil supplement. The basal diet was composed of 50% conc entrate and 50% meadow hay and was supplemented with 4, 8 or 10% of rape se ed oil. Supplementation of the diet with 4 and 8% of rape seed oil caused a drop in net microbial protein production, determined by allantoin excretio n in urine, but the differences were not significant. The highest dose of r ape seed oil had no effect on the intestinal flow of microbial protein. Fat supplement had no influence on pH and ammonia-N or on total VFA, acetate a nd propionate concentrations. The butyrate concentration was, however, lowe r (P<0.05) when rape seed oil was added to the basal diet.