Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
The effect of time after feeding on the distribution of nitrogen (N) in digesta from various segments of the gastrointestinal tract was studied in sheep given a diet of chopped hay once daily. Four groups of four animals were slaughtered at 2, 8,16 and 24 h after feeding and digesta were separated into large (>1180μm), medium (300 to 1180 μm) small (45 to 300 μm) and fine particles and liquid (<45 μm) fractions. The N pool in the reticulorumen decreased with time after feeding but post-ruminal N pools changed very little. Changes in N distribution within the reticulorumen reflected reductions in large particles and increases in fine particles and liquid fractions, the intermediate fractions remaining fairly constant.