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Rumen Motility of Sheep as Affected by the Physical Form of Oat Hay

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville²

Abstract

A study was made with four mature sheep on the effect of texture of oat hay on rumen motility, rumen contractions per minute, ratio of large contractions to small contractions and resting intraruminal pressure. The oat hay was fed either long or ground through a 0.64-, 0.24-, or 0.10-cm. screen of an attrition mill. Animals were fed each hay preparation from 6 to 8 weeks or until rumen motility patterns became relatively uniform for 2 successive weeks. The hay was fed at the rate of 908 gm. per head daily. Measurements were made weekly following a 24-hr, fast. Amplitude of rumen contractions declined as the hay was ground to a greater degree of fineness. Resting intraruminal pressure was elevated with some positive pressures obtained as the degree of fineness was increased. There were no differences observed in the contractions per minute among the various treatment groups or the ratio of small to large contractions.

¹ Present Address: University of California, Davis.

² Published with the approval of the Director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.