Studies on degradation and outflow rate of protein supplements in the rumen of dry and lactating Chios ewes and Damascus goats

Abstract

AbstractOutflow rate of small particles from the rumen of dry and lactating Chios ewes and Damascus goats were measured in two separate trials using Cr-treated soya-bean meal (SBM). In another trial, the in situ degradation of fish meal (FM) and SBM in the rumen of Chios ewes and Damascus goats were measured. Outflow rate (per h) of small particles from the rumen of the two species was similar but higher outflow rates were observed in lactating than in dry animals (dry ewes 0·054, lactating ewes 0·086, dry goats 0·057, lactating goats 0·081). With the exception of dry-matter degradability of SBM at 6-h incubation periods there were no significant differences between ewes and goats in crude protein or dry-matter degradability of both supplements at all incubation intervals. Degradation measurements at various incubation periods and effective degradation values were different between supplements.