The rumen buffering system of sheep fed pelleted roughage–concentrate rations
- 1 November 1969
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in British Journal of Nutrition
- Vol. 23 (4), 805-811
- https://doi.org/10.1079/bjn19690091
Abstract
1. Three wethers fitted with permanent rumen cannulas were given a pelleted roughage–concentrate ration containing 45% ground barley straw as roughage. The animals were given 1 kg of the diet at 08.00 h and 500 g at 17.00 h.2. The measurements made to determine the buffering components of the rumen fluid were: rumen pH, buffering capacity value (β), total volatile fatty acids (VFA), CO2and inorganic phosphorus concentrations.βwas expressed as the quantity of titrant (m-equiv./l.) required to bring about 2 unit changes in rumen fluid pH. The pH ranges in which theβvalues were measured were 4–6, 5–7 and 6–8. All measurements were made at hourly intervals over a 9 h period commencing 1 h before feeding.3. Rumen pH values were high before feeding, decreased to a minimum 2 h after feeding and then increased to approximately the original values. The concentrations of total VFA followed an inverse pattern. There was diurnal variation in the concentrations of CO2but inorganic P levels varied very little throughout the day.4. Significant correlations were obtained between VFA, inorganic P and CO2levels and theβvalues. It would appear that the bicarbonate and phosphate buffers were not effective in regulating the rumen pH when sheep were given a roughage–concentrate ration.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Phosphorus turnover in sheepAustralian Journal of Agricultural Research, 1967
- Comparative studies on the digestive physiology of sheep fed on semi-purified or roughage-concentrate dietsBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1966
- THE ADDITION OF BUFFERS TO RUMINANT RATIONS: IV. THE EFFECT OF ADDITIONS OF SODIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM PROPIONATE, LIMESTONE AND COD LIVER OIL ON INTRA-RUMEN ENVIRONMENTCanadian Journal of Animal Science, 1963
- THE ADDITION OF BUFFERS TO RUMINANT RATIONS: II. ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON WEIGHT GAINS, EFFICIENCY OF GAINS AND CONSUMPTION BY STEERS OF ALL-CONCENTRATE RATIONSCanadian Journal of Animal Science, 1962
- Saliva secretion and its relation to feeding in cattleBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1961
- The rate of flow and composition of various salivary secretions in sheep and calvesThe Journal of Physiology, 1960
- Observations on the act of eating in cattleBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1958
- Volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the rumen of dairy cows receiving a variety of dietsBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1957
- Buffer systems in the rumen of sheep. I. pH and bicarbonate concentration in relationship to pCO2.Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 1955
- A Review of Bloat in RuminantsJournal of Animal Science, 1945