Utilisation of ammonium nitrogen by the adult hen

Synopsis Colostomised hens were given one of 3 diets: A, basal diet containing 10.8 per cent crude protein; B, diet A supplemented with the equivalent of 1.8 per cent crude protein as diammonium phosphate; C, diet A supplemented with the equivalent of 1.7 per cent crude protein as diammonium citrate. The mean percentages of dietary nitrogen absorbed were 82.9, 85.2 and 85.2 for the three diets, respectively, the percentages of the nitrogen of diammonium phosphate and diammonium citrate absorbed being 97.8 and 99.0, respectively. Retention of nitrogen was variable but was lower with diet A than with diet C but higher with diet A than with diet B.