A method of circulating and sampling the rumen contents of sheep fed on ground, pelleted foods

Abstract

Considerable difficulty and uncertainty can be associated with sampling through cannulas from the reticulo-rumen of the sheep. The contents are by no means homogeneous, and for some purposes relatively large samples have to be withdrawn from various places within the organ and mixed in an external container before a subsample is taken for analysis and the unused portion returned to the rumen. I n addition to the uncertainties of this conventional method of sampling, it is a rather cumbrous procedure and rumen contents may be lost from the open cannula if the animal bleats or moves rapidly.