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The effect of midwinter shearing on rumen digesta kinetics in highly prolific crossbred ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

L.B.J. Šebek  and
H. Everts
L.B.J. Šebek
Affiliation:
ID-TNO Animal Nutrition, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
H. Everts
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, P.O. Box 80152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Extract

The effective rumen degradability (ERD) of dietary protein is used to quantify the amount of dietary protein entering the small intestine of ruminants. Midwinter shearing of prolific ewes increases rumen degradation rate (Kd) of dietary protein (Šebek and Everts, 1999). However, these differences in Kd may be compensated by a different rumen passage rate (Kp), since cold exposure is often associated with increases in Kp. Kp can be estimated by use of an undegradable marker. This method, although reliable for fluids seems less reliable for solids. The objective of the present experiment was to quantify the effect of midwinter shearing on ERD in highly prolific ewes. As an alternative to the use of Kp, ERD of crude protein (CP) and of protein-free-organic-matter (OM_CP) were estimated from periodical changes in rumen volume partitioned as rumen degradable (Xd) and rumen undegradable (Xu) components.

Type
Threatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2001 , 2001 , pp. 53
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2001

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References

Aitchison, E.M., Gill, M., France, J. and Dhanoa, M.S. 1986. Comparison of methods to describe the kinetics of digestion and passage of fibre in sheep. Journal of Science, Food and Agriculture 37: 1065 – 1072.Google Scholar
Šebek, L. B. J. and Everts, H. 1999. In situ rumen degradation of dry matter and crude protein in ewes and dairy cows. Animal Science 68: 801 – 808.Google Scholar