Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T04:37:57.682Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Quantitative digestion of fresh herbage by sheep: I. The sites of digestion of organic matter, energy, readily fermentable carbohydrate, structural carbohydrate, and lipid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. J. Ulyatt  and
J. C. Macrae
M. J. Ulyatt
Affiliation:
Applied Biochemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
J. C. Macrae
Affiliation:
Applied Biochemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Sheep prepared either with a rumen cannula, or with a rumen cannula plus re-entrant cannulae in the duodenum and ileum were fed fresh ‘Ruanui’ perennial ryegrass (R), ‘Manawa’ short-rotation ryegrass (M) and white clover (C) at dry-matter intakes ranging from 450 to 1000 g/24 h.

The re-entrant cannulated sheep were given paper impregnated with chromic oxide (Cr2O3) once daily via the rumen fistula as a marker; recoveries of Cr2O3 at the duodenum, ileum and faeces were approximately 75, 69 and 100% respectively. Regressions of Cr2O3-corrected digesta constituent flows (g/24 h) on intake were constructed and from these were calculated the sites of digestion of OM, gross energy, readily fermentable carbohydrate, structural carbohydrate and lipid between the stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

There were differences between pasture species in partition of OM and energy digestion. With M, digestion in the stomach was significantly less (P < 0·01) and digestion in the small intestine was significantly more (P < 0·05) than with either R or C. These partitions of OM and energy digestion changed with level of feed intake. A substantial proportion (9–18%) of the digestible OM and energy was apparently digested in the large intestine with all three herbages.

With all three herbages approximately 93% of the digestible readily fermentable carbohydrate and 90% of the digestible structural carbohydrate was digested in the stomach region.

Reasons for differences in gross efficiency of utilization between the pasture species in the order C > M > R were examined.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 1974 , pp. 295 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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

Bailey, R. W. (1967). Quantitative studies of ruminant digestion. II. Loss of ingested plant carbohydrates from the reticulo-rumen. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 10, 15–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bailey, R. W. & Jones, D. I. H. (1971). Pasture quality and ruminant nutrition. III. Hydrolysis of ryegrass structural carbohydrates with carbohydrases in relation to rumen digestion. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 14, 847–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beever, D. E., Thomson, D. J., Pfeffer, E. & Armstrong, D. G. (1971). The effect of drying and ensiling grass on its digestion in sheep: Sites of energy and carbohydrate digestion. British Journal of Nutrition 26, 123–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blaxter, K. L. & Martin, A. K. (1962). The utilisation of protein as a source of energy in fattening sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 16, 397–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, G. F., Armstrong, D. G. & MacRae, J. C. (1968). The establishment in one operation of a cannula into the rumen and re-entrant cannulae into the duodenum and ileum of the sheep. British Veterinary Journal 124, 78–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruce, J., Goodall, S. D., Kay, R. N. B., Phillipson, A. T. & Vowles, L. E. (1966). The flow of organic and inorganic materials through the alimentary tract of the sheep. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B 166, 46–62.Google ScholarPubMed
Evans, P. S. (1964). A study of leaf strength in four ryegrass varieties. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 7, 508–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grimes, R. C., Watkin, B. R. & Gallagher, J. R. (1967). The growth of lambs grazing on perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot, with and without white clover, as related to the botanical and chemical composition of the pasture and pattern of fermentation in the rumen. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 68, 11–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, L. E. & Phillipson, A. T. (1962). The measurement of the flow of food to the duodenum of sheep. Animal Production 4, 97–116.Google Scholar
Hogan, J. P. & Weston, R. H. (1969). The digestion of pasture plants by sheep. III. The digestion of forage oats varying in maturity and in the content of protein and soluble carbohydrate. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 20, 347–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogan, J. P., Weston, R. H. & Lindsay, J. R. (1969). The digestion of pasture plants by sheep. IV. The digestion of Phalaris tuberosa at different stages of maturty. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 20, 925–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johns, A. T., Ulyatt, M. J. & Glenday, A. C. (1963). Pasture type in relation to live-weight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep. IV. Some rumen characteristics of the sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 61, 201–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joyce, J. P. & Newth, R.P. (1967). Use of comparative slaughter technique to estimate the nutritive value of pasture for hoggets. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 27, 166–80.Google Scholar
McLean, J. W., Thomson, G. G., Iversen, C. E., Jagusch, K. T. & Lawson, B. M. (1962). Sheep production and health on pure-species pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 24, 57–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacRae, J. C. (1970). Changes in chemical composition of freeze-stored herbage. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 13, 45–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacRae, J. C. & Armstrong, D. G. (1969 a). Studies on intestinal digestion in the sheep. I. The use of chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 15–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacRae, J. C. & Armstrong, D. G. (1969 b). Studies on intestinal digestion in the sheep. 2. Digestion of some carbohydrate constituents in hay, cereal and hay-cereal rations. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 377–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacRae, J. C. & Ulyatt, M. J. (1972). Partition of energy and nitrogen digestion in sheep fed fresh pasture species. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 31, 59A.Google Scholar
MacRae, J. C. & Ulyatt, M. J. (1974). Quantitative digestion of fresh herbage by sheep. II. Sites of digestion of some nitrogenous constituents. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 82, 309–319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacRae, J. C., Ulyatt, M. J., Pearce, P. D. & Hendtlass, J. (1972). Quantitative intestinal digestion of nitrogen in sheep given formaldehyde-treated and untreated casein supplements. British Journal of Nutrition 27, 39–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Minson, D. J. (1966). The apparent retention of food in the reticulo-rumen at two levels of feeding by means of an hourly feeding technique. British Journal of Nutrition 20, 765–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nicholson, J. W. G. & Sutton, J. D. (1969). Effect of diet composition and level of feeding on digestion in the stomach and intestines of sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 585–601.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porter, P. & Singleton, A. G. (1971). Digestion of carbohydrates and hay in small ruminants. British Journal of Nutrition 26, 75–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rae, A. L., Brougham, R. W., Glenday, A. C. & Butler, G. W. (1963). Pasture type in relation to liveweight gain, carcass composition, iodine nutrition and some rumen characteristics of sheep. I. Live-weight growth of the sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 61, 187–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rattray, P. V. & Joyce, J. P. (1969). The utilisation of perennial ryegrass and white clover by young sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 29, 102–13.Google Scholar
Topps, J. H., Kay, R. N. B. & Goodall, E. D. (1968). Digestion of concentrate and of hay diets in the stomach and intestines of ruminants. I. Sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 22, 261–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ulyatt, M. J. (1969). Progress in defining the differences in nutritive value to sheep of perennial ryegrass, short-rotation ryegrass and white clover. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 29, 114–23.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J. (1971). Studies on the causes of differences in pasture quality between perennial ryegrass, short-rotation ryegrass and white clover. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 14. 352–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J. & MacRae, J. C. (1971). The sites of digestion of fresh pasture species in the gastrointestinal tracts of sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 31, 74–81.Google Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. & Wine, R. H. (1967). Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IV. Determination of plant cell-wall constituents. Journal of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists 50, 50–5.Google Scholar
Van Tuil, H. D. W., Lampe, J. E. M. & Dijkshoorn, W. (1964). The possibility of relating the ash alkinity to the organic salt content. Jaarboek Instituut Voor Biologish en Scheikundig Onderzoek van Landbourgenassen (Year Book IBS), Wageningen, pp. 157–60.Google Scholar
Weston, R. H. & Hogan, J. P. (1971). The digestion of pasture plants by sheep. V. Studies with subterranean and Berseem clovers. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 139–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, C. H., David, D. J. & Iismaa, O. (1962). The determination of chromic oxide in faeces samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 59, 381–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar