The cellulolytic activity of rumen contents was assayed by measuring losses in weight and tensile strength of cotton yarn incubated in rumen contents in the presence of dietary additives (barley, tallow) and at different pH values. The addition of barley depressed cellulolysis and the titer of filter paper-degrading bacteria only if the pH was allowed to fall. Lowering the pH from 7.0 to 6.0 by...

The ability of rumen microbiota to incorporate inorganic sulfate into cystine and methionine was suggested by Loosli et al. (1949) and demonstrated by Block et al. (1951) through use of radioactive sodium sulfate. The significance of this incorporation as applied to ruminant nutrition has been discussed by Davis et al. (1954). Formation of microbial protein in the rumen of cattle is accompanied...

The saliva of sheep was shown to contain significant concentrations of uric acid (16(SD 4.5) mumol/l) and allantoin (120(SD 16.4) mumol/l), sufficient to recycle purine derivatives equivalent to about 0.10 of the normal urinary excretion. When allantoin was incubated in vitro in rumen fluid, it was degraded at a rate sufficient to ensure complete destruction of recycled allantoin. In a series o...

Data from seven beef steer trials were compiled and regression analyses used to evaluate relationships among molar proportions of acetate (Ac), propionate (Pr) and butyrate (Bu), total concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA), rumen ammonia (NH3), rumen pH, rumen fluid dilution rate (FDR), rumen fluid volume (FVOL), body weight (WT), dry matter intake (DMI) and dietary concentration and inta...

The saliva of sheep was shown to contain significant concentrations of uric acid (16 (SD 4.5) pmol/l) and allantoin (120 (SD 16.4) pmol/l), sufficient to recycle purine derivatives equivalent to about 0.10 of the normal urinary excretion. When allantoin was incubated in vitro in rumen fluid, it was degraded a t a rate sufficient to ensure complete destruction of recycled allantoin. In a series ...

In this study, nine male Dallagh sheep (initial weight 35±2 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 latin square design experiment with three treatments and three 21-day periods (14 d adaptation, 7 d collection). Treatments were control (without addition) and two treatment diets containing 10% dry matter Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) and Urtica dioica (nettle) powder. The dry matt...

Sheep and cattle are frequently subjected to feed and water deprivation (FWD) for about 12 h before, and then during, transport to reduce digesta load in the gastrointestinal tract. This FWD is marked by weight loss as urine and faeces mainly in the first 24 h but continuing at a reduced rate subsequently. The weight of rumen contents falls although water loss is to some extent masked by saliva...

Four, ruminally fistulated crossbred (Brahman×native) beef cattle with initial body weight of 420±15 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were mulberry leaf pellet (MUP) supplementation at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g/hd/d with rice straw fed to allow ad libitum intake. All steers were kept in individual pens and supplemented with concentrate at 5 g/...

The aim of this experiment was to investigate rumen fermentation and some blood parameters of dromedary camels fed with C3 and C4 forage. Four fistulated dromedary adult camels were fed with diets as a changeover design, 30 days for each period. The diets included alfalfa hay + wheat straw (C3 forage) and atriplex+ suaeda + seidlitzia (C4 forage). At ...

The inhabitants of the rumen microbial eco-system, a complex consortium of different microbial groups living in symbiotic relationship with the host, act synergistically for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic feeds into volatile fatty acids which serve as a source of energy for the animals. The constraints, imposed by the host and the feed consumed by the animal, under which these microbes ha...