The digestion of foodstuffs in the stomach of the sheep and the passage of digesta through its compartments

Abstract

Only well-digested material reached the omasum and abomasum from the rumen even immediately after feeding. Thus the extent of digestion in the rumen was determined by values from the omasum and abomasum, rather than from total content changes in the rumen itself. Cellulose digestion in the rumen of sheep fed wheat hay and wheat straw averaged 30%, fed wheat hay alone averaged 40% and alfalfa hay over 50%. Extent of digestion of pentosans and solids was similar to that of cellulose.