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The effect of intra-ruminal feeding on the intake of silage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. S. McLeod  and
R. J. Wilkins
D. S. McLeod
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berks.
R. J. Wilkins
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berks.
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Summary

A ryegrass silage with pH of 3·8 was prepared and part was neutralized to pH of 5·4 with sodium bicarbonate. Sheep were fed ad lib. in four treatments in which the two silage feeds were fed with either all the feed being consumed per os or with the introduction of silage (15 g D.M./kg LW0·75 per day) directly into the rumen through a fistula. Intake per os was significantly higher (P < 0·001) for the modified silage than for the original silage and was significantly lower (P < 0·001) for the treatments which included feeding per rumen rather than all the food being consumed per os. Feeding per rumen resulted in a small but significant (P < 0·05) increase in the total (per os + per rumen) intake of both types of silage. This increase in intake through feed being introduced directly into the rumen suggests that factors sensed in the oro-pharyngeal region which were by-passed with this treatment may have some limiting effect on the intake of both these silages. The effect of the introduction of feed directly into the rumen on intake per os was similar for the two silage feeds, despite much higher levels of consumption of the modified silage for both feeding methods. This suggests that the increase in intake brought about by partial neutralization was not mediated through this treatment affecting any oro-pharyngeal limitation on the intake of silage.

Volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rumen were higher for the modified silage treatments, but differences between silage treatments for molar proportions of volatile fatty acids, rumen pH and rates of cellulose digestion were non-significant. The initial digestion of cellulose was slower, the molar proportions of acetic acid were lower and of propionic acid higher for treatments which involved feeding per rumen rather than all the food being consumed per os. These observations are discussed in relation to the use of the intra-ruminal feeding techniques and to possible factors limiting the intake of highly acid silages.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , December 1970 , pp. 559 - 564
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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