Use of an Esophageal-Fistula Cannula for Collecting Forage Samples by Grazing Sheep

Abstract

A new technique for collecting herbage samples by means of sheep equipped with esophageal-fistula cannulae is described. Several fistulated sheep were used to collect forage samples representative of ingested material. Other sheep were used in the experimental areas to collect liquid and solid excreta by means of collection bags. Thus by using the lignin-ratio procedure the digestibility of range forage can be determined.