NITROGEN REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADULT PRAIRIE VOLE (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER)

We determined maintenance nitrogen requirements of the adult prairie v ole (Microtus ochrogaster) using a nitrogen balance trial approach. Pr airie voles required 401 mg kg(-0.75) day(-1) of nitrogen to meet main tenance requirements and met requirements on diets containing approxim ately 4.4% crude protein. Dry matter intake did not vary with percenta ge of nitrogen in the diet, suggesting that animals on nitrogen-insuff icient diets do not display appreciable compensatory intake. Body mass change was only moderately associated with nitrogen balance, indicati ng that fluctuations in body mass during the trial were likely associa ted with factors other than nitrogen intake.