Studies of the metabolism of cattle given high concentrate diets

Abstract

1. Four mature, fistulated Africander steers were used to study the effect of four different high concentrate diets on the concentration and rate of production of steam V.F.A., and on concentrations of certain constituents found in the blood, rumen digesta and urine of these animals. Each steer received each diet for 4 weeks in a Latin square design and samples of blood, rumen digesta and urine wore taken in the last week of each monthly period. The diets were based on maize grain with a protein-mineral-vitamin A supplement and contained varying proportions of roughage, namely, 0, 10, 20 and 30% of the quantity of concentrate.