Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:07:15.052Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of water deprivation upon the rumination behaviour of housed sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

John G. Gordon
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen

Extract

The importance of water for the function of the reticulo-rumen has been stressed by the classic work of Schalk & Amadon (1928). The aspiration theories of regurgitation of Chauveau & Toussaint (Toussaint, 1875) and of Wester (1926) differ, but both imply that before rumination can proceed normally there must be a sufficiency of fluid in the reticulo-rumen. However, Kick, Gerlaugh & Schalk (1937) noted that, with cattle, rumen contents which were so firm as to be almost impossible to break up by hand did not prevent rumination. The writer has noticed a similar phenomenon in sheep. In both cases the animals were given a high level of roughage and a low level of concentrates in their diet. But, even if apparently firm ingesta can be regurgitated, it is still likely that the regurgitate is in fact of a fluid consistency and therefore water intake will be a limiting factor. Transport of ingesta in suspension from the reticulo-rumen through the omasum likewise requires an adequate supply of water.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bonsma, J. C. (1949). Union of S. Africa Dept. Agric. Sci. Bull. no. 307.Google Scholar
Cory, V. L. (1927). Tex. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. no. 367.Google Scholar
Cresswell, E. (1960). Anim. Behav. 8, 32.Google Scholar
Denton, D. A. (1957). Quart. J. Exp. Physiol. 42, 72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
French, M. H. (1956). Emp. J. Exp. Agric. 24, 128.Google Scholar
Gordon, J. G. (1955). Rumination in the sheep. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Gordon, J. G. (1958). J. Agric. Sci. 50, 34.Google Scholar
Hayward, J. S. (1961). C.S.I.R.O. Wildlife Res. 6, 160.Google Scholar
Kick, C. H., Gerlaugh, P. & Schalk, A. F. (1937). Proc. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. p. 95.Google Scholar
Kirmiz, J. P. (1962). Adaptation to Desert Environment. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Meyer, J. H., Weir, W. C. & Smith, J. D. (1955). J. Anim. Sci. 14, 160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schalk, A. F. & Amadon, R. S. (1928). N. Dak. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. no. 216.Google Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K. (1956). The Future of Arid Lands. Publ. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. Washington, U.S.A., p. 368.Google Scholar
Schmidt-Nielsen, K., Schmidt-Nielsen, B., Houpt, T. R. & Jarnum, S. A. (1956). Mammalia, 20, 1.Google Scholar
Toussaint, H. (1875). Arch. Physiol. Norm. Path. 2nd Ser. 2, 14.Google Scholar
Tribe, D. E. (1948). Scot. Agric. 27, 161.Google Scholar
Wester, J. (1926). Die Physiologie und Pathologie der Vormägen beim Rinde. Berlin; Richard Schoetz.Google Scholar