CONTROLS OVER THE INTAKE OF STRAW BY SHEEP: EFFECTS OF FORM OF DIET AND INTAKE STIMULANTS ON SHAM FEEDING

Abstract

The sham intakes of straw by esophageal fistulated sheep were low when straw was chopped (27.4 g/30 min) but they were increased by pelleting (1087 g/30 min) and by adding 2% monosodiumglutamate (MSG) and 2% NaCl to the pellets (1532 g/30 min). Intakes of alfalfa pellets were 1473 g/30 min. Monosodiumglutamate also quadrupled intakes of chopped straw (P < 0.01). Key words: Palatability, straw, monosodiumglutamate, sheep