Digestion of proteins of varying degradability in sheep. 1. Fermentation in and rate of passage from the reticulorumen.

Abstract

Sugarbeet pulp, citrus pulp, sugarbeet molasses and minerals and vitamins were mixed with different amounts of groundnut expeller, potato protein, peas or dried brewers' grains to give 6 concentrates with protein solubility from 7 to 51%. The concentrates (600 g daily) were given with rye grass (300 g daily) to 2 Texel wethers weighing about 70 kg with a cannula in the dorsal rumen sac. With increasing degradability of protein, rumen fermentation was less stable, the diurnal variation and content of ammonia in rumen fluid were increased, the ratio of non-glucogenic to glucogenic volatile fatty acids decreased and the dilution rate of rumen fluid increased. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)