Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T21:51:10.969Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of change of diet on the mineral composition of rumen fluid, on magnesium metabolism and on water balance in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

C. L. Johnson  and
D. A. Aubrey Jones
C. L. Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
D. A. Aubrey Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. The effects of four diets on water intake, rumen fluid outflow-rate, rumen pH and mineral metabolism were studied in wether sheep. The diets were barley and hay, flaked maize and hay, dried grass and frozen grass.

2. Experimental periods were of 12 d duration, and plasma magnesium concentrations were lower at the end of treatment periods when the grass diets were given and were significantly different (P < 0.05) at 11.00 and 20.45 hours. Also, the concentration was significantly lower with the dried-grass diet than with the frozen-grass diet (P < 0.05).

3. The concentration of Mg in rumen fluid centrifuged at 30000 g (ultracentrifuged) varied with the diet. Maximum concentrations (tmax) were reached 4 h later on the grass diets than on the hay and concentrate diets. In the latter case tmax coincided with that for calcium, potassium, chloride and ammonia. At this time sodium and phosphate were at a minimum. The concentration of Mg in ultracentrifuged rumen fluid was negatively correlated (r −0.89) with pH, which was significantly higher (P < 0.01) at all times on the grass diets. This relation was also reflected in the apparent availability of Mg.

4. Total water intake on the frozen grass was about twice that on the barley and hay diet. The outflow rate of liquid from the rumen was higher on the frozen grass than on the other three diets.

5. The proportion of absorbed Mg excreted in urine was significantly influenced by diet.

Type
Minerals
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , May 1989 , pp. 583 - 594
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1989

References

Annison, E. F., Lewis, D. & Lindsay, D. B. (1959) The metabolic changes which occur in sheep transferred to lush spring grass. 1. Changes in blood and rumen constituents. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 53, 34–41.Google Scholar
Aubrey Jones, D. A. (1982). Studies on the effects of conserved and fresh diets on water balance, rumen function and magnesium metabolism in dairy cows and sheep. PhD Thesis, University of Leeds.Google Scholar
Balch, D. A. & Rowland, S. J. (1957) Volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the rumen of cows receiving a variety of diets. British Journal of Nutrition 11, 288–298.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, R. C. (1980). Studies on the absorption of magnesium from the rumen of sheep. PhD Thesis, University of Leeds.Google Scholar
Bryant, A. M. (1964) Variations in the pH and volatile fatty acid concentration within the rumen. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 7, 694–706.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Care, A. D., Brown, R. C. & Pickard, D. W. (1984) Magnesium absorption from the digestive tract of sheep. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 69, 577–587.Google Scholar
Care, A. D., Vowles, L. E., Mann, S. O. & Ross, D. B. (1967) Factors affecting magnesium absorption in relation to the aetiology of acute hypomagnesaemia. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 68, 195–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Czerkawski, J. W. (1986) An Introduction to Rumen Studies. Oxford: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Dobson, A. & Phillipson, A. T. (1958) The absorption of chloride ions from the reticulo rumen sac. Journal of Physiology 140, 94–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fawcett, J. K. & Scott, J. E. (1960) A rapid and precise method for the determination of urea. Journal of Clinical Pathology 13, 156–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horn, J. P. & Smith, R. H. (1978) Absorption of magnesium by the young steer. British Journal of Nutrition 40, 473–484.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. L., Helliwell, S. H. & Aubrey Jones, D. A. (1988) Magnesium metabolism in the rumens of lactating dairy cows fed on spring grass. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 73, 23–31.Google Scholar
Lane, G. T., Noller, C. H., Colenbrander, V. F., Cummings, K. R. & Harrington, R. B. (1968) Apparatus for obtaining rumenoreticular samples and the effect of sampling location on pH and volatile fatty acids. Journal of Dairy Science 51, 114–116.Google Scholar
Lawes Agricultural Trust (1980) Genstat 4.04. Harpenden: Statistics Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station.Google Scholar
Malawer, S. J. & Powell, D. W. (1967) An improved turbidimetric analysis of polyethylene glycol using an emulsifier. Gastroenterology 53, 250–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mengel, K. & Kirkby, E. A. (1982) Principles of Plant Nutrition 3rd ed., p. 464. Berne: International Potash Institute.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1973) The analysis of agricultural materials. Technical Bulletin no. 27. London: H.M. Stationary Office.Google Scholar
Nikolic, J. A., Jovanovic, M. & Andric, R. (1977) Influence of mineral element concentrations on protein synthesis by rumen micro-organisms in vitro. 1. Magnesium. Acta Veterinaria Yugoslavia 27, 9–19.Google Scholar
Phillipson, A. T. (1952) The fatty acids present in the rumen of lambs fed on a flaked maize ration. British Journal of Nutrition 6, 190–198.Google Scholar
Powley, G. & Johnson, C. L. (1977) Some effects of conservation of grass upon magnesium metabolism in sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 88, 477–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rook, J. A. F. & Campling, R. C. (1962) Magnesium metabolism in the dairy cow. IV. The availability of magnesium in various feedingstuffs. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 59, 225–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, R. H. & Horn, J. P. (1976). Absorption of magnesium labelled with magnesium-28, from the stomach of the young steer. In Nuclear Techniques in Animal Production and Health pp. 253–260. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency.Google Scholar
Technicon (1967) Method N-36; Calcium. Tarrytown, New York: Technicon Instruments Corporation.Google Scholar
Technicon (1969) Method N-46; Inorganic Phosphate. Tarrytown, New York: Technicon Instruments Corporation.Google Scholar
Tomas, F. M. & Potter, B. J. (1976) The site of magnesium absorption from the ruminant stomach. British Journal of Nutrition 36, 37–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warner, A. C. I. & Stacy, B. D. (1968) The fate of water in the rumen. 1. A critical appraisal of the use of soluble markers. British Journal of Nutrition 22, 369–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wylie, M. J., Fontenot, J. P. & Green, L. W. (1985) Absorption of magnesium and other macro-minerals in sheep infused with potassium in different parts of the digestive tract. Journal of Animal Science 61, 1219–1229.Google Scholar