AN EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIETARY PARAMETERS AND RUMEN SOLID TURNOVER RATE

Abstract

Data were compiled from published sources in order to relate the effects of level of feed intake, dietary energy concentration, energy intake level and dietary roughage level on the rate of turnover of solid material in the rumen for both sheep and cattle. Regression analyses were used to quantify the effects of dietary parameters and combinations of these parameters on rumen solid turnover rates. Significant simple regression relationships were established between feed intake and solid turnover rates with both sheep (r = 0.479) and cattle (r = 0.281). Solid turnover rates were negatively related to dietary digestible energy concentrations based upon data from sheep (r = −0.468), but no relationship (P > 0.05) between the two parameters was found for cattle. Solid turnover rates were increased (P < 0.05) with elevations in digestible energy intakes and with elevations in the percentage of dietary forage with sheep. From multiple regression analyses, it was learned that elevations in the energy density in the diet depressed solid turnover rates in both ruminant species.