Biomaterial Database

The effect of cold exposure of sheep on digestion, rumen turnover time and efficiency of microbial synthesis. 1976

P M Kennedy, and R J Christopherson, and L P Milligan

1. Six closely shorn sheep were given brome grass (Bromus inermis) pellets at 1 h intervals and maintained at ambient temperatures of --I to Idegree and 18--21degrees for 28 d. Measurements of digestion were made during the last 10 d of temperature exposure. 2. Cold exposure resulted in a reduction in apparent dry matter (DM) digestibility from 0-482 to 0-450, and of apparent digestibility of organic matter (OM) from 0-511 to 0-477. Neither apparent digestibility nor retention of nitrogen was affected. 3. Apparent digestibility of OM in the rumen decreased from 0-300 to 0-242 with cold exposure, and was highly correlated with turnover time in the rumen of 103Ru, which was used as a particulate marker. 4. The efficiency of microbial synthesis (g N incorporated into microbial cells/kg OM apparently digested) was correlated with the dilution rate of the solute marker (51Cr) and with the turnover time of the particulate marker (103Ru) in the rumen. 5. Digestion in the intestine of DM and OM accounted for significantly more of apparent digestion in the whole gastrointestinal tract for sheep kept in the cold than for sheep kept in the warm. The apparent digestibilities of DM and OM entering the intestine were similar in sheep on both treatments, but significantly more non-ammonia-N was digested in the intestines of cold-exposed sheep. 6. The influence of dilution rate of rumen fluid on the efficiency of synthesis of microbial cells in the rumen is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D004063	Digestion	The process of breakdown of food for metabolism and use by the body.
D005232	Fatty Acids, Volatile	Short-chain fatty acids of up to six carbon atoms in length. They are the major end products of microbial fermentation in the ruminant digestive tract and have also been implicated in the causation of neurological diseases in humans.	Fatty Acids, Short-Chain,Short-Chain Fatty Acid,Volatile Fatty Acid,Acid, Short-Chain Fatty,Acid, Volatile Fatty,Fatty Acid, Short-Chain,Fatty Acid, Volatile,Fatty Acids, Short Chain,Short Chain Fatty Acid,Short-Chain Fatty Acids,Volatile Fatty Acids
D005750	Gastric Juice	The liquid secretion of the stomach mucosa consisting of hydrochloric acid (GASTRIC ACID); PEPSINOGENS; INTRINSIC FACTOR; GASTRIN; MUCUS; and the bicarbonate ion (BICARBONATES). (From Best & Taylor's Physiological Basis of Medical Practice, 12th ed, p651)	Gastric Juices,Juice, Gastric,Juices, Gastric
D005769	Gastrointestinal Motility	The motor activity of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.	Intestinal Motility,Gastrointestinal Motilities,Intestinal Motilities,Motilities, Gastrointestinal,Motilities, Intestinal,Motility, Gastrointestinal,Motility, Intestinal
D006109	Poaceae	A large family of narrow-leaved herbaceous grasses of the order Cyperales, subclass Commelinidae, class Liliopsida (monocotyledons). Food grains (EDIBLE GRAIN) come from members of this family. RHINITIS, ALLERGIC, SEASONAL can be induced by POLLEN of many of the grasses.	Alopecurus,Arundo,Gramineae,Grasses,Imperata,Grass,Imperata cylindrica
D000018	Abomasum	The fourth stomach of ruminating animals. It is also called the "true" stomach. It is an elongated pear-shaped sac lying on the floor of the abdomen, on the right-hand side, and roughly between the seventh and twelfth ribs. It leads to the beginning of the small intestine. (From Black's Veterinary Dictionary, 17th ed)	Abomasums
D000222	Adaptation, Physiological	The non-genetic biological changes of an organism in response to challenges in its ENVIRONMENT.	Adaptation, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiological,Adaptive Plasticity,Phenotypic Plasticity,Physiological Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptations,Physiological Adaptations,Plasticity, Adaptive,Plasticity, Phenotypic