Rumen cannulation is considered the most appropriate method for collection of representative samples of rumen digesta and it has been widely used in ruminant nutrition research. However, other methods such as oral stomach probing represent an alternative to allow rumen sample collection from larger populations and to reduce the cost and welfare issues associated to cannulated animals. This experiment was conducted with ruminally cannulated sheep and goats to validate the use of the stomach probing in small ruminant nutrition research. Four sheep and four goats were fed a diet consisting of alfalfa hay and concentrate (1:1). On day 15, samples of rumen digesta were taken by stomach tube and rumen cannula, before (Pre) and 4 hours after the morning feeding (Post) and rumen fermentation parameters (pH, lactate, ammonia, and total VFA concentrations) were measured. Additionally, the three main rumen microbial groups (bacteria, protozoa and methanogenic archaea) and a fibrolitic bacteria (Ruminococcus flavefaciens) were quantified by real time PCR. Overall, sampling by rumen cannula or stomach tube were able to detect similar differences in fermentation parameters and numbers of microorganisms between sheep and goats sampled before and after feeding. These results suggest that stomach probing could be a suitable method for sampling rumen digesta from small ruminants.

3 páginas, 2 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado a las XV Jornadas sobre Producción Animal AIDA (Zaragoza, 14 al 15 de mayo, 2013).

Peer reviewed