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A study on consistency of differences between cows in rumen outflow rate of fibrous particles and other substrates and consequences for digestibility and intake of roughages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. R. Ørskov ,
I. Ojwang  and
G. W. Reid
E. R. Ørskov
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
I. Ojwang
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
G. W. Reid
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Abstract

In 22 cows given complete diets of 500 g straw and 500 g concentrates per kg fresh weight the outflow rate of small fibrous particles was determined on two occasions to investigate the consistency of this measurement and its association with apparent digestibility. The correlation between the outflow rates on the two occasions were r = +0·90 and the correlation with apparent digestibility was r = −0·80.

In a second experiment, the outflow rates of long and small particles were determined together with rumen retention time. There was no difference between outflow rate of long and small particles but rumen retention times were greater with the long particles. The correlation between the two estimates of outflow rate was r = +0·84. The outflow rate of fish meal was found to be 0·070 while that of short fibrous particles was 0·031 per h. The average liquid outflow rate was 0·146 per h.

The three cows with the highest outflow rate and the three with the lowest outflow rate from experiment 2 were selected for experiment 3. While voluntary food intakes of the two groups were similar, the differences in outflow rates between the cows persisted both with ad libitum and restricted intakes of both a high and a low roughage diet. The differences were reflected in significant differences between the two groups in apparent digestibility of the diets. The practical implications for breeding and selection are discussed.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 47 , Issue 1 , August 1988 , pp. 45 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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