The Amounts of Feeds and Nutrients in the Rumen of Cattle throughout a 24-Hour Period as Affected by Plane of Feeding and Character of Ration

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Abstract
Rumen contents of steers were examined every 4 hrs. throughout 24-hr. periods for purposes of gathering information pertaining to fundamental rumen physiology in the utilization of feeds by cattle. Two rumen fistula steers were fed successively 3 rations at 3 levels of feeding. The composition of the rations differed only in the form of corn used: whole shelled corn, ground shelled corn, and ground ear corn. The rumen ingesta examinations included the wt. of the wet material and the following analysis, dry matter, protein, crude fiber, ether extracts, and ash. Estimations of the amts. of feeds existing in the ingesta throughout the day were made by physical separation methods and mathematical detns. based upon nutrient analysis. Only slight differences were noted in the rumen contents when whole shelled corn was compared with ground shelled corn; marked differences in the water and fiber make-up of the rumen existed when ground ear corn was fed. The significance of these differences can be evaluated only in part at present, since information is incomplete concerning conditions favorable to rumen micro-organisms in bringing about fiber digestion and synthesis of protein and vitamin nutrients.

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