The effect on the rumen composition of feeding sheep diets supplying different starches. I. The variation in rumen composition of sheep fed lucerne or wheat as the sole diet

Abstract

1. Three fistulated and four unfistulated crossbred sheep were each fed once daily with diets of lucerne or wheat.2. A pre-feeding sample of the rumen liquid was examined for its content of protozoa, of various chemical components and for its enzymic activity on glucose and on soluble starch. Several samples were taken from each sheep at intervals over periods of up to 8 weeks, during which time the sheep were maintained solely on the single diet.3. Considerable variation occurred, both between sheep and between samples from the same sheep, in the concentrations of ciliate protozoa and of lactic acid, especially on the wheat diet.4. Analyses for nitrogen, pH, dissolved C02, volatile fatty acids and for the molar proportions of acetic and propionic acid showed differences due to diet.