Einfluß verschiedener physikalischer Formen des Futters auf den Energieumsatz bei Wiederkäuern

Abstract

The influence of various physical forms of the feed on energy utilisation was comparatively investigated in a total of 170 experiments with the complete metabolism and 28 digestibility experiments with fullgrown sheep. The roughage feedstuffs dried green fodder of vetch/grass, lucerne and rye grass and straw were fed in 9 rations with different quotas of concentrates (0 to 60%) to 4 parallel animals. The roughage underwent the following 5 methods of mechanical treatment: 1) chopping; 2) chopping and pelleting; 3)grinding; 4) grinding and pelleting; 5) chopping and pelleting with concentrates. On the whole, no significant influence of the different methods of mechanical treatment on rumen on the basis of the characteristic data acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, acid total, pH-value and NH3-content during the course of the day (sampling 2.5 to 3, 4 to 4.5, 5.5 to 6, 7 to 7.5, 15.5 to 16 hours after feeding). On an average of the 9 rations the rumen fluid sampled 2.5 to 3 hours after feeding merely showed a growing tendency of the quota of acetic acid and a corresponding decrease of the quota of propionic acid according to the degree of fineness of the roughage.