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A mathematical model of the rumen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. France ,
J. H. M. Thornley  and
D. E. Beever
J. France
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
J. H. M. Thornley
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
D. E. Beever
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
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Summary

A dynamic model of rumen processes is constructed. The nine state variables considered are: rumen metabolic volume, non-rumen-degradable β-hexose, rumen-degradable β-hexose, α-hexose, water-soluble carbohydrates, non-protein nitrogen, rumendegradable protein and non-rumen-degradable protein. The dietary and salivary inputs to the rumen may be continuous, or pulsed. Rumen outflow given by the model is compared with data on sheep fed with different diets. Reasonable agreement is obtained when the model is run in the continuous mode, but there are considerable discrepancies between the experimental data and the pulsed model.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 99 , Issue 2 , October 1982 , pp. 343 - 353
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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