Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:11:29.539Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mechanical stimulation of rumen fill and alimentary behaviour in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. Baumont ,
C. H. Malbert  and
Y. Ruckebusch
R. Baumont
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, 31076 Toulouse, Cedex, France
C. H. Malbert
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, 31076 Toulouse, Cedex, France
Y. Ruckebusch
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, 31076 Toulouse, Cedex, France
Get access

Abstract

The effects of an increase of rumen fill obtained with polystyrene cubes, and able to stimulate mechanically the rumen wall were investigated on alimentary behaviour and reticulo-rumen motility in sheep. The introduction through a rumen cannula of a volume of polystyrene cubes equal to one-quarter of the ruminal pool size depressed the daily intake of both low-quality cocksfoot hay and good-quality lucerne hay (P < 0·05). Surprisingly, the time spent ruminating was slightly increased and the frequency of contractions during rumination was significantly increased (P < 0·05). In addition, in the sheep fed enterally with a liquid into the rumen, either the mechanical stimulation of the rumen dorsal wall or the introduction of hay (200 g) into the rumen, induced a rumination molility pattern. It is concluded that the intensity of mechanical stimulation of the dorsal sac of the rumen by food particles, which depends upon rumen fill, reduces the time spent eating to increase the duration and intensity of rumination.

Keywords

intakerumen motilityruminationsheep
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , February 1990 , pp. 123 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aitchison, E. M., Gill, M., Dhanoa, M. S. and Osbourn, D. F. 1986. The effect of digestibility and forage species on the removal of digesta from the rumen and the voluntary intake of hay by sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 56: 463–476.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baile, C. A. and Forbes, J. M. 1974. Control of feed intake and regulation of energy balance in ruminants. Physiological Reviews 54: 160–214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balch, C. C. and Campling, R. C. 1962. Regulation of voluntary food intake in ruminants. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 32: 669–686.Google ScholarPubMed
Baumont, R., Dulphy, J. P. and Andrieu, J. P. 1988. [Feeding behaviour and reticulo-ruminal fill in sheep fed ad libitum grass hay or lucerne hay with continuous or restricted access: effects on physical control of feed intake.] Reproduction Nutrition Développement 28: 573–588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campling, R. C. and Balch, C. C. 1961. Factors affecting the voluntary intake of food by cows. 1 — Preliminary observations on the effect, on the voluntary intake of hay, of changes in the amount of the reticulo-ruminal contents. British Journal of Nutrition 15: 523–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, S. B. and Jacobson, D. R. 1967. Intraruminal addition of mass or removal of rumen contents on voluntary intake of the bovine. Journal of Dairy Science 50: 1814–1818.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cruickshank, G. J., Poppi, D. P. and Sykes, A. R. 1987. The influence of intraruminal water-filled balloons on pasture intake in grazing sheep. Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, pp. 97–98. Australian Society of Animal Production.Google Scholar
Dulphy, J. P. and Faverdin, P. 1987. [Food intake in ruminants: modalities and associated phenomena.] Reproduction Nutrition Développement 27: 129–155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leek, B. F., 1969. Reticulo-ruminal mechano-receptors in sheep. Journal of Physiology 202: 585–609.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leek, B. F. 1977. Abdominal and pelvic visceral receptors. British Medical Bulletin 33: 163–168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malbert, C. H. and Ruckeihjsch, Y. 1987. [Intrinsic motor activity of the ruminant stomach.] Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire 138: 155–161.Google Scholar
Moseley, G. and Jones, J. R. 1984. The physical digestion of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) in the foregut of sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 52: 381–390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ørskov, E. R., Grubb, D. A., Wenham, G. and Corrigall, W. 1979. The sustenance of growing and fattening ruminants by intragastric infusion of volatile fatty acid and protein. British Journal of Nutrition 41: 553–558.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reid, C. S. W. 1986. Digestive physiology: the challenges today and tomorrow. In Control of Digestion and Metabolism in Ruminants (ed. Milligan, L. P., Grovum, W. L. and Dobson, A.), pp. 540–577. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.Google Scholar
Rlickebusch, Y. and Brady, J. C. 1982. In Techniques in Digestive Physiology, P20, (ed. Titchcn, D. A.), pp. 1–20. Elsevier Scientific Publishers, County Clare, Ireland.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis System Institute. 1985. Statistics Version 5. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Thompson, B. C., Cruickshank, G. J., Poppi, D. P. and Sykes, A. R. 1985. Diurnal patterns of rumen fill in grazing sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealund Society of Animal Production 45: 117–120.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J., Waghorn, G. C., John, A., Reid, C. S. W. and Monro, J. 1984. Effect of intake and feeding frequency on feeding behaviour and quantitative aspects of digestion in sheep fed chaffed lucerne hay. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 102: 645–657.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welch, J. G. 1967. Appetite control in sheep by indigestible fibers. Journal of Animal Science 26: 849–854.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed