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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 November 2017
Some recent studies (Frutos et al., 1992) comparing Spanish sheep breeds have indicate possible differences between breeds in the digestive diet utilization. The aim of this experiment was to compare the activity of microbies in the rumens of Churra and Merino sheep which were kept in the same environment and received the same diets. The pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration in rumen liquor were also determined in all animals.
The experiment was conducted with 5 mature Churra sheep (47.2 ± 2.74 kg live weight (LW)) and 5 mature Merino sheep (45.0 ± 0.91 kg LW), which had been fitted with a rumen cannula of 35 mm diameter 4 months before the start of the experiment. All animals were housed in individual pens and had free access to water and mineral blocks. The animals received alfalfa hay at maintenance level through the experimental period, which was distributed in two equal amounts at 10:00 and 18:00 h.