INTERPRETATION OF NONSTEADY STATE RUMEN LIQUID MARKER DILUTION CURVES

Abstract
A method for evaluating the dynamics of rumino-reticulum water under nonsteady state conditions has been developed for nonfistulated cattle, using per os sampling over a 4-h time period and compared to a method assuming a constant volume and dilution rate. Liquid passage rates were 12.1% h−1 for the nonsteady method compared to 18.3% h−1 for the method which assumed steady state conditions (P < 0.05). Key words: Liquid, passage rate, nonsteady state, marker, rumen, cattle