Intraruminal Addition of Mass or Removal of Rumen Contents on Voluntary Intake of the Bovine

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Abstract
Where inert polyethylene cubes comprised 4.0, 7.5, 13.5, and 22.6% of the total ration consumed, feed intake (not including polyethylene cubes) was reduced by 3.1, 4.4, 6.0, and 25.6%, whereas total intake (including polyethylene cubes) changed by 0.8, 3.5, 9.0, and -3.9%, respectively. Mass (containerized polyethylene cubes or water) was added to the rumen at levels of 1.6, 4.9, and 8.2% of metabolic size. Voluntary intake of chopped alfalfa hay was reduced by 0.5, 0.4, and 0.1 kg daily. A significant increase in adjusted dry matter intake of 0.4 kg per day occurred when 8.2% of metabolic size of rumen contents was removed 3 hr. after feeding. These results are interpreted to mean that bulk added to the rumen in physiological amounts plays only a minor role in determining dry matter consumption.