Estimation of the Rumen Load of Sheep Through Measuring the Consistency of Rumen Contents

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  • HIDARI Hisashi
    Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

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  • めん羊第一胃内容物の堅さによる飼料充滿状態の推定
  • メンヨウ ダイ1イ ナイヨウブツ ノ カタサ ニヨル シリョウ ジュウマン ジ

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Abstract

An instrument for estimating the rumen load through the consistency of rumen contents was devised to analyze the relationships between the physical properties of rumen digesta and the diurnal eating pattern of sheep fed in free access. This device is a torque meter that transduces the consistency of the rumen content into the torque value of the winged shaft which stirs the rumen contents. There was high correlation between the torque value of this device on stirring the rumen digesta and dry matter contents in the rumen (r=0.936). Even when the sheep ingested the same amounts of chopped hay or hay cubes, the torque value at the feeding of the former was higher than that of the latter. The longer the rumination periods the more the torque value decreased. A temporary decrease of the torque value was observed immediately after drinking water. It has been proved through the use of this equipment that the torque value reflected the changes of consistency of the rumen digesta accompanying the ingestive behaviour of sheep. By measuring of the consistency of the rumen contents, this device seems to be useful in estimating the changes in the rumen load as affected by the eating behaviour, and for studying the relationship between the eating behaviour and rumen load.

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