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Variation in methane production by sheep fed every two hours

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. C. Mathers  and
D. E. Walters
J. C. Mathers
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge
D. E. Walters
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council Statistics Group, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DX
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Summary

Four sheep were maintained on a pelleted diet based on barley straw, sunflower-seed meal and barley which was offered at 2 h intervals by mechanical feeders. In each of two periods approximately 3 weeks apart, methane production was measured continuously for 6 h in each animal. Despite the frequent feeding regime, methane output varied markedly with time increasing after feeding and then declining. Serial correlation analysis indicated a rhythmical variation of period 2 h which was confirmed by Fourier series analysis for all but one data set. The observations suggest that even with frequent feeding, there is considerable deviation from steady state in the rate of carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 98 , Issue 3 , June 1982 , pp. 633 - 638
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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