DIFFICULTIES IN DEFAUNATION OF THE OVINE RUMEN

Abstract
Three defaunation procedures, two utilizing surface active agents and one involving washing the rumen wall with formaldehyde, were used in an attempt to obtain protozoa-free sheep. Only one treatment produced a sheep free from detectable numbers of protozoa for a period longer than 24 days. In addition, the debilitating side-effects of the treatments on the animals complicated the defaunation experiments. Key words: Ovine, rumen, defaunation, protozoa, detergent