ADAPTION OF HEIDSCHNUCKEN, MERINO AND BLACKHEAD SHEEP TO A FIBROUS ROUGHAGE DIET OF POOR QUALITY

Abstract

Heidschnucken, an autochthonous sheep breed, were able to utilize a fibrous roughage diet of poor quality by increasing the volume of the reticulorumen and prolonging the retention time of particles. Under poor dietary conditions Merino Sheep, too, were able to supply the energy demands by increasing the volume of the fermentation chamber. Blackhead sheep showed no major ability of such an adaptation. Key words: Sheep, low quality, diets, rumen volume, retention time