RUMEN DIGESTA LOAD IN RELATION TO VOLUNTARY FEED CONSUMPTION AND RUMINATION IN ROUGHAGE-FED YOUNG SHEEP

Abstract

Rumen digesta load was inversely related to estimated net energy intake and positively related to time spent in ruminating and bolus chewing duration in young sheep fed medium and low quality roughage diets; an interplay between rumen transactions and energy metabolism in roughage intake regulation is suggested. Key words: Roughage intake, rumen digesta, rumination, young sheep