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Effect of feeding frequency on the diurnal changes in microbial protein, volatile fatty acids and ammonia contents of the rumen of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. Michałowski
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology, Zoological Institute, Warsaw University, Zwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland

Summary

Diurnal variations in microbial protein nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids and ammonia were examined in two wethers fed once and twice daily with 0·4 kg of concentrateand 0·4 kg hay/day. The total protein nitrogen varied during the day from 76·9 to 130·2 mg/100 ml of rumen fluid. The greatest amount of protein nitrogen was noted immediately before feeding and the smallest 4 h after feeding. The protein nitrogen of rumen protozoa formed about 39·8–53·4% of total protein nitrogen in rumen fluid. Volatile fatty acids varied from 74·0 to 130·5 m-mol/1 of rumen fluid and ammonia from 187·0 to 305·6 mg/1. The higher concentration of total and protozoal protein nitrogen and of VFA was observed when animals were fed twice daily. The changing of feeding frequency from once to twice daily caused an increase of ammonia concentration in the rumen of only one wether. The results obtained are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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