Influence of dietary niacin on volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid of sheep and rumen dry matter degradability of untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw

Three rumen fistulated sheep were fed with roughage (1200 g artificially dried grass) or a concentrate/roughage diet (600 g concentrate, 400 g artificially dried grass per animal and day). The diets were unsupplemented or 0.5, 1 and 2 g niacin per animal and day were added. After a 14-day adaptation period samples of rumen liquid were taken 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after morning feeding. In a second experiment untreated and NH3-treated wheat straw were incubated in nylon bags for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h in the rumen of 5 sheep fed with 1.2 kg artificially dried grass and unsupplemented or supplemented with 1 g niacin per day. Niacin did not significantly influence the total concentration of volatile fatty acids, acetate and branched chain fatty acids in both types of diet (P less than 0.05). 0.5 and 1 g niacin in the roughage and 0.5 g niacin in concentrate/roughage diet increased the propionic acid concentration and reduced the butyric acid concentration in rumen liquid of sheep (P less than 0.05). Niacin resulted in a small decrease (P greater than 0.05) of dry matter degradability in rumen. After 48 h incubation time, the dry matter disappearance of untreated and NH3-treated wheat straw amounted to 35.4 and 46.2% resp. The effects of niacin on rumen fermentation may be useful in avoiding ketogenic situations in dairy cows.     

Effect of dietary choline on volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid of sheep and rumen dry matter degradability of untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw

Three rumen fistulated wethers consumed a roughage (1200 g artificially dried grass) or a concentrate/roughage diet (600 g concentrate, 400 g dried grass per animal and day). The diets were unsupplemented or 0.5, 1 or 2 g choline per animal and day were added. After a 14-day feeding period, samples of rumen liquid were taken 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after morning feeding. In a second experiment, untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw were incubated in nylon bags for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h in rumen of 5 sheep fed on 1.2 kg dried grass and without or with 1 g choline per day. Choline supplementation decreased the total concentration of volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid in both types of diet (roughage: 106, 83, 89 and 87; concentrate/roughage: 142, 114, 91 and 106 mmol/l for 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 g choline per day resp.). Concentration of acetate and branched chain fatty acids in both diets and butyrate in concentrate/roughage diet was reduced as total acids. Butyrate in roughage diet was increased by added choline. Molar propionate concentration was not significantly influenced by choline (P greater than 0.05). Choline resulted in a little increase (P greater than 0.05) of dry matter degradability in rumen, especially when NH3-treated straw was incubated. The effect of choline on milk fat production of cows fed with diets rich in concentrate is probably not related to changes in rumen fermentation and digestion.     

Profile of isoacids in rumen fluid and influence of added isoacids on in sacco dry matter disappearance of untreated and ammonia treated wheat straw

The influence of type of diet and time after feeding on concentration of isoacids in rumen fluid of 6 fistulated sheep were investigated. The concentration of isoacids in rumen fluid was higher in diets rich in concentrate and protein (5.6) than in roughage diets (3.4) or in straw-starch-urea diets poor in native protein (highest concentration: 2.1 mmol/l rumen fluid). Feeding of roughage diet or straw-starch-urea-diet effected a significant decrease of concentration of isoacids in the rumen fluid after morning feeding, but concentrate-roughage diet, increased the isoacids-concentration. Reasons for decreased concentration of isoacids may be a shortage of corresponding amino acids and a high activity of cellulolytic microbes. Infusion of isoacids (3 g per day) in the rumen of sheep fed with a straw-starch-sugar-urea diet did not significantly influence the in sacco dry matter degradability of untreated wheat straw, but increased the dry matter loss of ammonia treated wheat straw from 16.0; 26.6; 39.4; 54.0 and 58.8% to 17.3; 29.7; 43.1; 56.3 and 63.0% after 6; 12; 24; 48 and 72 h rumen incubation time respectively. Further experiments seem to be necessary. The effect of isoacids may be expected to occur with poor quality feeds, rich in fibre low in protein and hence low in branched-chain amino acids.     

中药复方对山羊的影响:Ⅵ·日粮营养物质瘤胃降解特性

试验旨在研究中药复方对日粮营养物质在山羊瘤胃内降解特性的影响。择6头健康的体重相近的安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的周岁大足黑山羊羯羊,按3×3重复拉丁方试验设计,随机分为3组,1个对照组和2个处理组。对照组饲喂基础日粮,2个处理组分别在基础日粮上给每头羊日喂15 g复方Ⅰ和复方Ⅱ(由藿香、苍术、黄柏和生石膏等中药按不同比例组成)。采用瘤胃尼龙袋法对日粮精料和粗料干物质(DM)、有机物(OM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)及酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)在瘤胃内不同时间点的降解率进行测定,再根据动态降解率计算出降解模型参数及有效降解率。结果表明:复方Ⅰ能极显著提高精料DM和ADF及粗料DM、OM、NDF和ADF的有效降解率(P<0.01);复方Ⅱ能极显著提高精料DM及粗料DM、OM和ADF的有效降解率(P<0.01),显著提高精料ADF和粗料NDF的有效降解率(P<0.05)。研究结果提示,中药复方能改善山羊瘤胃降解能力,且复方Ⅰ作用效果优于复方Ⅱ。     

Effect of exogenous xylanase on rumen in vitro gas production and degradability of wheat straw

The objective of this study was to determine effects of xylanase on in vitro gas production (GP) and in sacco degradability of wheat straw. Rumen fluid was obtained from three Mongolian native goats fitted with permanent rumen cannulas. The trial consisted of five doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 μL/g of substrate) of a commercial xylanase (Dyadic^® xylanase PLUS, Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, FL, USA). For the in sacco degradability, different levels of xylanase enzyme were added directly onto 2 g of wheat straw in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h to estimate degradability of wheat straw. Total GP increased (P < 0.001) at all times of incubation at intermediate levels of xylanase. Methane production had a similar pattern at 3 and 12 h of incubation; increased linearly at 24 h of incubation, and was unaffected at 6 and 48 h of incubation. Rumen NH₃‐N concentration increased linearly at 3 h and the highest values were observed with intermediate enzyme levels. All ruminal volatile fatty acids increased linearly with intermediate levels of the fibrolytic enzyme. The in sacco rate of dry matter degradation decreased linearly (P = 0.020) with increasing enzymes. Intermediate levels of xylanase improved rumen kinetic fermentation and degradability. The outcome of this research indicated that the application of xylanase enzyme could improve in vitro GP fermentation of wheat straw.     

Composition, digestibility and feed intake of Opuntia ficus indica by Ogaden sheep

First of all spineless Opuntia is an important source of water for livestock in tropical regions. The water content of one-year sprouts amounted to 92.5%. 70 to 75% of dry matter of Opuntia ficus indica were crude carbohydrates, approximately 20% were crude ash. The apparent digestibility of organic matter was considerably high (70.9%), the energy content amounts to 35 and 467 EFUc per kg of fresh and dry matter respectively. Opuntias are roughage, their energy content is similar to that of grass or legumes during flowering. The protein content is too low (4.5 to 5.5% crude protein of dry matter) in order to meet the protein requirements of animals. When they had the choice rams preferred chopped fresh Opuntia (61.6% of the whole DM intake) to chopped dried Opuntia (34.7%) and whole fresh Opuntia (3.7%) apart from a certain basal diet (200 g of meadow hay and 200 g of concentrate per animal and day). If only one of the three differently treated forms of Opuntia was fed (apart from the basal diet) the sheep consumed daily 359 g of dry matter of chopped fresh Opuntia (approximately the same amount as if they had the choice, 101%), 313 g of dry matter of chopped dried Opuntia (88%) and 121 g of dry matter of whole fresh sprouts of Opuntia (34% of the total intake when they had the choice.) According to the obtained results spineless Opuntia ficus indica can be used in chopped form as an additional feed to other roughages (like grass, hay, straw) especially during the dry season.     

小麦秸秆处理方式对绵羊生长性能、瘤胃发酵性能及经济效益的影响

文章旨在评估不同小麦秸秆处理方式对干物质体外降解动力学及绵羊生长性能和瘤胃发酵性能的影响.试验将平均初始体重为(51.26±0.07)kg的24头绵羊随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复2头羊.3组绵羊每天采食体重1％的基础浓缩料,对照组自由采食未处理的小麦秸秆,处理组绵羊分别采食2.5％氨水处理的小麦秸秆和5×108...     

Effects of different roughage sources and feeding levels on adipogenesis of ovine adipocytes

The objective of the present study was to conduct an adipogenic evaluation of different roughage sources and feeding levels during ruminant adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Six wether sheep were divided into a timothy hay feeding group (TFG, n = 3) and an Italian ryegrass straw feeding group (IFG, n = 3). The sheep were fed high‐roughage (HR), medium roughage (MR) and low‐roughage (LR) diets in a one‐way layout design each over a 6‐day period. Sheep serum samples collected on the last day of each dietary treatment were added to an adipogenic induction medium for differentiation of preadipocytes derived from sheep subcutaneous adipose tissue. The cytoplasmic lipid accumulations in the TFG serum‐treated preadipocytes were significantly higher than those of the IFG‐serum treated preadipocytes on day 12. Messenger RNA expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP)‐α, C/EBP‐β, C/EBP‐δ, fatty‐acid‐binding protein (aP2) and stearoyl‐coenzyme A desaturase (SCD) were regulated by each serum treatment. This study shows that different roughage source diets and roughage‐to‐concentrate ratio diets can regulate adipocyte differentiation via ruminant blood composition.     

The effect of lasalocid on apparent digestibility, characteristics of rumen fermentation and fattening and slaughter output of bulls

Four digestion experiments with 5 wethers each (Feeding: artificially dried grass; 0, 15, 30 or 60 mg lasalocid per animal and day), two short time experiments (Exp. 1: 3 rumen fistulated sheep; feeding; artificially dried grass; 0, 15, 30 or 60 mg lasalocid per animal and day; exp. 2: 20 bulls; feeding; 2 kg concentrates per animal and day; wheat straw ad libitum; 0, 150 or 300 mg lasalocid per animal and day) and one individual feeding experiment (24 bulls per group; duration: 279 days, feeding: 2 kg concentrates per animal and day, corn silage and whole barley-grass silage ad libitum; 0 or 100/200 mg lasalocid per animal and day) were carried out in order to investigate the influence of the ionophore lasalocid on digestibility, figures of rumen fermentation as well as fattening and slaughtering results of bulls. Higher doses of lasalocid (30 and 60 mg per animal and day) decreased significantly digestibility of organic matter (1.8 and 2.8 units) and crude fibre (5.8 and 7.2 units). Relative acetate (22 to 120 mmoles per mol) and butyrate concentration (23 to 58 mmoles per mol) were decreased and molar propionate concentration of rumen liquid (25 to 154 mmoles per mol) was increased depending on level of lasalocid supplementation. Lasalocid did not significantly influence the dry matter intake; daily weight gain and slaughtering results were increased (4.4 and 6.1%), energy efficiency was improved (3.8%). Effects of lasalocid are similar to that of monensin. A dose of 20 to 30 mg lasalocid per kg dry matter is recommended.     

稻秆和麦秸纤维成分瘤胃降解特性的比较研究

本试验用３头安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的阉马头山羊，依瘤胃尼龙袋法分别测定了稻秆和麦秸全植株不同形态部分及不同节段的干物质、细胞内容物，中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、木质素、纤维素和半纤维素的瘤胃４８小时降解率，比较分析表明：麦秸和稻秆不同形态部分的差异是其营养价值差异性的真正来源；纤维成分瘤胃降解率相互间差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１），农作物品种的影响也极其明显。     

Rumen Degradation Characteristics of Six Types of Common Roughage in Khorchin Beef Cattle in Tongliao City

[Objective] The paper was to study the degradation characteristics of different types of roughage in Khorchin beef cattle. [Method] The nylon bag method was used to determine the rumen degradability of six types of roughage: dry matter(DM), crude protein(CP), neutral detergent fiber(NDF) and acid detergent fiber(ADF). [Result] Among the six types of roughage, alfalfa hay had the highest effective degradability of DM and CP in rumen; followed by alfalfa block, corn silage, leymus chinensis and corn stover, and the effective degradability of rice straw was lowest. In terms of effective degradability of NDF and ADF, alfalfa hay was the most effective, while leymus chinensis was the least effective. [Conclusion]Considering degradation characteristics of six types of roughage in Khorchin beef cattle, alfalfa hay possesses the highest nutritional value, while rice straw has the lowest value.     

The effect of grain species, processing and time of feeding on the efficiency of feed utilization and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

This study investigated the effect of cereal grain species (sorghum, wheat, oats and barley), extent of processing (cracked barley, finely ground barley, and wet whole barley) and time of feeding (barley grain mixed with ryegrass hay or fed 2 h before hay was fed), on whole tract dry matter digestibility (WTDMD), and microbial protein synthesis (MPS), as a supplement to ryegrass hay when fed to rumen-cannulated sheep.Expected dry matter digestibility (EDMD) in mixtures of cereal grain and ryegrass hay was calculated by interpolation between in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD) of each grain and the ryegrass hay. These were compared with measured actual WTDMD to detect positive or negative associative effects. Among grain species, the percentage difference in digestibility between actual WTDMD and EDMD was negative at − 6.6% units for wheat but positive at + 2.3%, + 4.3% and + 5.7% units for sorghum, oats, cracked or finely ground barley, respectively.As expected, the supplementation of sheep fed ryegrass hay with different sources of carbohydrates increased urinary allantoin output (as an indicator of MPS) when compared to sheep fed ryegrass hay alone. The concentration of urinary allantoin was significantly higher in sheep supplemented with sorghum (1916 mg/sheep/day) than wheat, oats or cracked barley ([mean ± S.E.M.] 1451 ± 24 mg/sheep/day) grain. There was a significantly higher urinary allantoin concentration in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley (1479 vs. 1095 vs. 1031 mg/sheep/day, respectively). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in urinary allantoin output, expressed as output/kg DM intake, when cracked barley was mixed and fed with the hay or fed 2 h before hay. However, in terms of total output of allantoin this was significantly higher (P < 0.05) (1479 vs. 1209 mg/sheep/day).In sacco degradability characteristics of organic matter and nitrogen for sorghum, oats, wheat, barley at different levels of processing and for ryegrass hay were also measured in the rumen of cannulated sheep.Among grain species, wheat had the highest effective organic matter degradability in the rumen (78.1%) while sorghum had the lowest. The effective degradability of protein of finely ground barley in the rumen was found to be higher than cracked barley or wet whole barley.Wheat grain, being highly degradable in the rumen, had a negative effect on WTDMD. In contrast, sorghum grain, being more slowly degradable in the rumen, would be expected to provide a substantially increased supply of energy to microbes over time in the rumen for MPS.Both cracked barley and finely ground barley also had a positive associative effect on WTDMD when fed with ryegrass increasing it by 5.7% units. The MPS was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in sheep fed cracked barley compared to finely ground barley or wet whole barley. This supports the hypothesis that slowly degrading carbohydrate sources synchronise more closely with available N from degradation of forage in the rumen.     

Comparative study on the aflatoxin B1 degradation ability of rumen fluid from Holstein steers and Korean native goats

The aflatoxin B1 degrading abilities of two different ruminants were compared in this study. One set of experiments evaluated the aflatoxin B1 degradation ability of different rumen fluid donors (steers vs. goats) as well as the rumen fluid filtration method (cheese cloth filtered vs. 0.45 µm Millipore) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Additional studies examined aflatoxin B1 degradation by collecting rumen fluid at different times (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h) after feeding. Cannulated Holstein steers (740 ± 10 kg bw) and Korean native goats (26 ± 3 kg bw) were fed a 60% timothy and 40% commercial diet with free access to water. Rumen fluid from Korean native goats demonstrated higher (p < 0.01) aflatoxin B1 degradability than Holstein steers. However, filtration method had no significant influence on degradability. In addition, aflatoxin degradation did not depend upon rumen fluid collection time after feeding, as no significant differences were observed. Finally, a comparison of two types of diet high in roughage found aflatoxin degradability in goats was higher with timothy hay opposed to rice straw, although individual variation existed. Thus, our findings showed the aflatoxin degradability is comparatively higher in goats compared to steers.     

不同加工处理日粮对绵羊瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸的影响

选用3只健康并安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的杂种羯羊,平均体重为24 kg,采用3×3无重复拉丁方试验设计,用3种不同日粮(全混合颗粒料日粮、粉碎精料+铡短粗料日粮和未粉碎精料+铡短粗料日粮)来研究对绵羊瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)浓度的影响。结果表明,采食未粉碎精料+铡短粗料日粮绵羊的瘤胃总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)浓度显著高于采食全混合颗粒料日粮绵羊(P＜0.05),采食未粉碎精料+铡短粗料及粉碎精料+铡短粗料日粮的绵羊瘤胃丙酸摩尔比显著或极显著高于采食全混合颗粒料日粮绵羊(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),而(戊酸+异戊酸)摩尔比极显著低于全混合颗粒料日粮绵羊(P＜0.01),乙酸/丙酸显著或极显著低于采食全混合颗粒料日粮绵羊(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)。因此,用粉碎精料+铡短粗料或未粉碎精料+铡短粗料日粮饲喂绵羊能改善绵羊瘤胃发酵类型。     

山羊瘤胃和粪便中厌氧真菌的分离及发酵粗饲料能力初探

本研究旨在分离山羊瘤胃及粪便中的厌氧真菌,并比较其对粗饲料的降解能力。分别采集2头饲喂青干草的南京本地山羊的瘤胃液与新鲜粪便,采用厌氧培养法,进行厌氧真菌的分离鉴定。实验从山羊瘤胃中分离到4类厌氧真菌,分别归于Neocallimastix、Piromyces、Orpinomyces和Anaeromyces属;从粪便中分离到二类厌氧真菌,归于Neocallimastix和Piromyces属。以稻草、麦秸、玉米秸为底物,对所分离的代表性厌氧真菌进行发酵降解试验。结果表明,所获菌株对稻草秸的干物质降解率大于30%,而对玉米秸的降解率低于25%。与所分离的瘤胃厌氧真菌相比,来源于粪便的厌氧真菌发酵上述3种底物时,所得的产气量和表观干物质消失率均较低。结果说明,本研究分离所得的厌氧真菌对不同底物的降解能力不一致,这可能与菌株自身的理化特性及底物的营养组成不同有关。     

饲粮中燕麦干草含量对绵羊瘤胃液pH及微生物区系的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮燕麦干草含量对绵羊瘤胃液p H及微生物区系的影响。选取9只体况和体重[(70.32±2.14)kg]相近、装有永久性瘘管的德国美利奴与蒙古羊杂种公羊,采用3×3拉丁方设计,随机分为3组,每组3只,各组分别采用全株玉米青贮、全株玉米青贮+燕麦干草(1∶1)(混合组)、燕麦干草为粗饲料。饲粮精粗比34.50∶65.50。进行3期饲养试验,每期20 d,15 d预试期,5 d采样期。采集饲喂前(0 h)和饲喂后1、3、5和7 h的瘤胃液,测定p H,采用实时定量PCR方法测定微生物相对含量。结果表明:1)全株玉米青贮组的瘤胃液p H在1、5 h均显著低于燕麦干草组(P0.05),在3 h极显著低于混合组(P0.01);2)混合组和燕麦干草组瘤胃液真菌的相对含量在0 h均极显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.01),燕麦干草组在5 h真菌相对含量显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05);3)混合组原虫的相对含量在1、5 h显著低于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05);4)饲喂后5 h,混合组和燕麦干草组的纤维分解菌相对含量均较高,其中燕麦干草组黄色瘤胃球菌相对含量显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.05),白色瘤胃球菌和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌的相对含量极显著高于全株玉米青贮组(P0.01)。综上所述,在精粗比为34.50∶65.50的饲粮中采用全株玉米青贮+燕麦干草(1∶1)的粗饲料,有利于维持绵羊瘤胃内环境的稳态及瘤胃微生物的生长,白色瘤胃球菌和产琥珀酸丝状杆菌为优势菌。     

用绵羊小肠液冻干粉测定饲料过瘤胃淀粉小肠消化率方法的研究

本试验旨在以玉米为样本筛选用绵羊小肠液冻干粉测定精饲料瘤胃非降解残渣淀粉小肠消化率的最佳培养条件。分别研究了小肠液冻干粉用量(0.2、0.3、0.4、0.5和0.6g)对16h玉米瘤胃非降解残渣干物质和淀粉小肠消化率的影响;离体培养时间(4、8、12、16、20和24h)对16h玉米瘤胃非降解残渣干物质和淀粉小肠消化率的影响。结果表明,在本试验条件下,绵羊小肠液冻干粉测定玉米瘤胃非降解残渣淀粉小肠消化率的最佳用量为0.45g小肠液冻干粉/0.56g玉米瘤胃非降解残渣,最佳培养时间为12h。利用绵羊小肠液冻干粉测定常用饲料过瘤胃残渣淀粉小肠消化率的方法是可行的。     

Decreasing the roughage:concentrate ratio of a diet to determine the critical roughage part for beef cattle.

The critical roughage part (CRP) of 2 diet types was determined in a cross-over design with 6 double-muscled and 6 normally conformed Belgian Blue bulls fitted with rumen cannulae. The roughage:concentrate ratio was lowered weekly until signs of a lack of physical structure were observed. For diet 1, consisting of maize silage and concentrates, the initial proportion of maize silage was 25% of DM but it decreased weekly with 5% units of DM. For the second diet, consisting of wheat straw and concentrate, 12% straw (DM basis) was provided during the first week and thereafter the proportion of straw decreased weekly with 3% units of DM. Several directly observable parameters (rumen pH, feed intake, bloat, faecal consistency) were evaluated weekly for each bull. Apart from these direct indicators of acidosis, also other parameters, whose results were only available after the end of the trial, were determined (volatile fatty acid profile, lactic acid concentration, chewing time). The roughage part between the part fed when signs of a lack of physical structure was first observed and the part that was fed the week before, was considered as the CRP. Most animals showed no acute signs of clinical acidosis (directly observable parameters) and finished the trial on a 100% concentrate diet. However, in sacco rumen DM-degradabilities of maize silage, grass silage and wheat grain was depressed considerably when low roughage diets were fed. Based on all observed parameters, the mean CRP was calculated to be 14.7% for diet 1 and 8.1% for diet 2. The beef type (double-muscled or not) had no influence on the CRP.     

Seasonal effect on rumen function in sheep on range in the Accra Plains of Ghana

This study aimed at investigating the effect of the seasonal decline in quality and availability of feed on rumen function in sheep grazing without supplementation. Effects of season on rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration and rumen degradation of urea-treated rice straw in grazing sheep were determined. Four fistulated Djallonké sheep were added to a group of grazing sheep and used for this study. Rumen contents were sampled for pH and ammonia in the rainy season and in the dry season. Ammoniated rice straw was incubated in the rumen to determine its degradation characteristics. Rumen pH was higher (p?p?>?0.05) in the two seasons. In sacco dry matter degradation parameters of urea-ammoniated rice straw showed seasonal differences in the soluble (a) and the insoluble but degradable (b) fractions as well as lag time before the start of degradation. It was concluded that despite higher pH in the dry season and similar ammonia nitrogen concentration in the two seasons, rumen degradability of dry matter of urea-treated rice straw in sheep was higher in the rainy season than that in the dry season.     

Consumption and ruminating behavior of sheep. 4. Experiments on young female sheep in different rearing intensities

In the framework of two rearing experiments with female merino meat sheep, measurings of the consumption and ruminating behaviour were carried out. Animals raised with a lot of roughage ruminated longer both in their lamb and young sheep periods. An increased quota of roughage in the ration increased both the ruminating time and the number of chewing moves and cycles significantly for young sheep. The dry matter intake capacity of animals raised with high quotas of roughage was by 14 and 8% resp. higher in the lamb period and by 26 and 18% resp. higher in the young sheep period. Rations with 24% chopped and dried green fodder and 11 ... 14% resp. crude fibre brought about a period of more than 6 hours ruminating and a minimum of 22,000 ruminating movements per day for lambs. Young sheep raised with high quotas of roughage showed an increased ruminating activity in subsequent periods of sole feeding with roughage.