A study on gastrointestinal tract characteristics of ram lambs at the same weights from six Turkish sheep breeds

Abstract

A study was conducted, first, to compare the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), reticulo-rumens and intestinal capacities (relative to body weight) of ram lambs from six Turkish sheep breeds: Turkish Merino (TM, Anatolia Merino), Akkaraman (AK), Kıvırcık (KV), Awassi (AW), Karayaka (KY) and Morkaraman (MK), and second, to examine the influence of sheep breed on the pH of the digesta in the various segments (rumen, jejunum and caecum) of the GIT. Six ram lambs from each breed were slaughtered at 40.2 ± 0.80 kg liveweight. Lambs from the AK breed had a heavier GIT weight than the AW, KY or MK breeds. The weight of the full stomach was higher in AK lambs compared with the other lambs, except for KV lambs, while the relative weight of the empty stomachs was heavier in MK ram lambs than in TM, AW and KY lambs. The AK lambs had the highest relative empty intestinal weight. The relative weight of empty intestines was heavier in KV lambs than in KY lambs. The pH of the rumen content was higher in TM and AK lambs compared with KY and MK lambs, while the pH of the caecum content of KV lambs was higher than those of KY and MK lambs. In conclusion, significant differences were found among the six breeds in terms of some variables that were studied, although a higher proportional GIT weight in the fat-tail breeds such as the MK, AK and AW was not reflected in all components or in the pH of the GIT content. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Native sheep breed, digestive system, rumen, small and large intestine, pH value # Corresponding

Presence of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes throughout the digestive tract of sheep

“…The ratio of the total stomach mass (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) to the total mass of the intestines was about 3.7. The obtained results were much higher than those described by Yıldırım et al (12). In adult ruminants the rumen is functionally integrated with a reticulum; therefore, it is commonly called the reticulo-rumen (1).…”

Carcass Yield, Non-Carcass Parts, Internal Organs and Meat Quality Characteristics of Karayaka Male Lambs with Different Birth Weight Fed Free-Choice Feeding

“…The effect of feeding system on carcass yield may be the direct or indirect effect through a change in the intake and digestibility of the ingredients used in experimental diets. Indeed, the GIT of extensively produced animals are more developed, due to the higher intake of dry matter compared to intensively produced lambs (Priolo et al 2002;Yıldırım et al 2014aYıldırım et al , 2014b. In the present study, relative weights of digestive tract (p<0.05) and stomach (p<0.05) and relative length of intestine (p<0.05) of TMR-fed lambs were higher than those of FCF-fed lambs (Table 3).…”

Some Gastrointestinal Tract Characteristics of Karayaka Ram Lambs Slaughtered at Different Weights

“…As there is no distinct division between the rumen and the reticulum, they are often referred to together (reticulo-rumen). The rumen was opened, and the contents were removed before the organ was washed by hand and the external fat was then removed [ 23 ]. Length of the intestine was measured with measuring stick and measuring tape [ 24 ].…”

“…In the present study, the pH values were determined in five slaughter weights of rumen, jejunum, and caecum because rumen and intestine digesta pH values are dependent on sampling location within rumen and intestine. The pH probe was kept in the rumen, duodenum, and caecum until the pH reading was stabilized, and pH value was recorded [ 23 ].…”