Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T19:04:40.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. T. Johns
Affiliation:
Plant Chemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
M. J. Ulyatt
Affiliation:
Plant Chemistry Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
A. C. Glenday
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Extract

1. A preliminary study has been made of some aspects of rumen development and fermentation patterns in groups of ewes and lambs fed perennial rye-grass (P), perennial rye-grass plus white clover (P + C), short-rotation rye-grass (S) and short-rotation rye-grass plus white clover (S + C).

(2) For ewes there was a significant effect on the weight of the rumen contents from the grass species. The treatment (P) which caused the lowest live weight gave the highest rumen contents weight. There were also significant pasture effects on empty live weight both from grass species differences and from the addition of clover.

3. No difference in rumen dry-matter percentages was found between the four groups.

4. There was no significant difference in the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumens of the P and S fed ewes but the addition of white clover had a significant effect.

5. The S + C sheep had a lower proportion of acetic acid, a greater proportion of propionic and butyric acids and greater development of the rumen papillae than the P animals.

6. With the lambs there were no significant differences in rumen characteristics caused by grasses but the addition of white clover caused a greater live weight and a reduction in the weight of the rumen contents.

7. These results are discussed in relation to present knowledge of ruminant metabolism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

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

Annison, E. P. & Lewis, D. (1959). Metabolism in the Rumen. London: Methuen.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D. G. (1960). Proc. 8th Int. Grassl. Conf., p. 485.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D. G., Blaxter, K. L. & Graham, N. M. (1957). Brit. J. Nutr. 11, 392.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D. G., Blaxter, K. L., Graham, N. M. & Wainman, F. W. (1958). Brit. J. Nutr. 12, 177.Google Scholar
Bailey, R. W. (1962). Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod. 22, 99.Google Scholar
Balch, C. C. (1960). Proc. 8th Int. Qrassl. Conf., p. 528.Google Scholar
Barton, R. A. & Ulyatt, M. J. (1963). J. Agric. Sci. 61, 191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1960). In Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of the Ruminant, p. 183. Ed. Lewis, D.. London: Butterworths.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., Wainman, F. W. & Wilson, R. S. (1961). Anim. Prod. 1, 51.Google Scholar
Harrison, H. N. (1959). M.S. Thesis, Cornell.Google Scholar
James, A. T. & Martin, A. J. P. (1952). Biochem. J. 50, 679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rae, A. L., Brougham, R. W., Glenday, A. C. & Butler, G. W. (1963). J. Agric. Sci. 61, 187.Google Scholar
Sander, E. G., Warner, R. G., Harrison, H. N. & Loosli, J. K. (1959). J. Dairy Sci. 42, 1600.Google Scholar
Tilley, J. M. A., Deriaz, R. E. & Terry, R. A. (1960). Proc. 8th Int. Grassl. Conf., p. 533.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J. (1962). N. Z. J. Agric. Res. 5, 121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warner, R. C., Flatt, W. P. & Loosli, J. K. (1956). Agric. Fd. Chem. 4, 788.Google Scholar