The change of feeding behavior and intra-ruminal property with intake of white clover on sheep
1998
Ogura, S. (Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Sugawara, K.
The present study was carried out to investigate the changes of feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation and physical property of ruminal fluid when ruminants ingested a large amount of white clover. Four Suffolk and Corriedale crossbred wether sheep (mean BW 38.0 kg) fitted rumen fistula was used for the experiment in metabolic cages. Eating and rumination time, ruminal VFAs and NH3N concentrations, protozoal density, and foam stability of ruminal fluid were investigated with the lapse of time after switching to fresh white clover feeding from fresh orchardgrass feeding for 72 hr. Eating and rumination time significantly decreased after switching to white clover feeding. Ruminal propionic acid, butyric acid, NH3N and protozoal density significantly increased on and after 48 hr from switching to white clover feeding. Furthermore, foam stability of ruminal fluid significantly increased on and after 48 hr from switching to white clover feeding. These changes on feeding behavior and ruminal phenomena might occur also in ruminants by ingesting a large amount of white clover on grass/clover pasture. In particularly, the increase of foam stability formed in the rumen might influence the digestion and absorption of nutrients in herbage except bloat effect. It is important to clarify not only the change of ruminal fermentation but also physical function of stable foam formed in the rumen on the utilization of nutrients in herbage
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