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The influence of the level of feeding on fermentation in the rumen of sheep receiving a diet of ground barley, ground hay and flaked maize

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. C. Hodgson ,
P. C. Thomas  and
Agnes G. Wilson
J. C. Hodgson
Affiliation:
The Hannah Research Insitute, Ayr
P. C. Thomas
Affiliation:
The Hannah Research Insitute, Ayr
Agnes G. Wilson
Affiliation:
The Hannah Research Insitute, Ayr
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Summary

Five rumen-cannulated sheep were given a diet of ground barley, ground hay and flaked maize in quantities which were increased progressively throughout the period of study. The rumen concentration of total short-chain fatty acids increased (P < 0·05) and the pH decreased (P < 0·05) as the level of feeding was raised and pH was correlated with the fatty acid concentration. There were no systematic effects of the level of feeding on the volume, outflow rate or clearance rate of the rumen liquid phase or on the ruminal concentration of ammonia. The molar percentage of acetic acid in the rumen fluid tended to decrease as the level of feeding was raised and there were compensatory increases in the percentage of propionic acid. However, there were wide variations in the composition of the mixture of rumen acids between sheep at each level of feeding and changes in fermentation pattern with level of feeding were not consistent between animals.

A broad inverse relationship was observed between the molar percentage of propionic acid and the clearance rate of the rumen liquid phase which supports the suggestion that there is an important association between the pattern of fermentation in the rumen and the liquid clearance rate.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 87 , Issue 2 , October 1976 , pp. 297 - 302
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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