Rumen fermentation of herbage in sheep receiving carbohydrate supplements

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Concentrations of rumen volatile fatty acids, ammonium and protein nitrogen and free microbial count in groups of sheep fed fresh herbage have been compared with concentrations in groups supplemented with pure carbohydrates.Rumen ammonia concentrations in sucrose and cellulose-supplemented sheep tended to be lower before feeding than in sheep fed herbage only, but this difference disappeared after feeding. Ammonia concentrations in sheep supplemented with starch, and those receiving herbage only were similar before feeding, but the rise after feeding was less for the starch-supplemented group. The rise in volatile fatty acids after feeding was greater when part of the herbage was replaced with an equal weight of dry matter of starch, but lower when replaced with ucrose or cellulose.