Studies on the alimentary tract of the merino sheep in South Africa. XIX. The influence of sulphanilamide on the activity of the ruminal flora of sheep and cattle

(1) It has been shown that therapeutic doses of sulphanilamide depress cellulose digestion and appetite in ruminants. (2) The fermentation of sugar and gas formation are also suppressed but only by higher concentrations. (3) The absorption of sulphanilamide after intra-ruminal dosing is very slow and effective blood concentrations are not attained with recognised therapeutic dosage. (4) The absorption of sulphanilamide is further retarded by paralysis of the rumen induced by atropin. (5) These findings raise the question as to the advisability of dosing sulphonamides to ruminants in view of their deleterious effects on cellulose digestion and appetite and the low blood concentration of the drug achieved by dosing.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Studies on the alimentary tract of the merino sheep in South Africa. XXI. The toxicity of urea to sheep under different conditions

The dosing of urea into the rumen of sheep caused acute intoxication characterised by atony of the rumen, muscular spasms and sudden death due to circulatory failure. The toxicity of urea was found to depend on the activity of the ruminal flora, as determined by the basic diet, and the presence of available carbohydrate. Toxic symptoms after dosing urea were associated with the formation of ammonia and a high pH of the ruminal contents. They could be prevented or alleviated by the administration of acid.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Studies on the alimentary tract of the merino sheep in South Africa. XVIII. The effect of fasting on the activity of the ruminal flora of sheep and cattle

1. The effects of starvation on the consistence of the ruminal ingesta and the activity of the ruminal flora have been studied. 2. The ruminal contents were found to become progressively more watery during starvation although there was still a large volume present even after 96 hours without food. 3. Both the fermentation of sugar and the digestion of cellulose were markedly depressed after 48 hours starvation. 4. On a low protein diet of grass hay the appetite returned to normal immediately after starvation but on a higher protein diet of lucerne hay the consumption after starvation was low and only returned to normal after 3 to 5 days. There was evidence to show that the sheep regulated their protein intake in accordance with the adaptation of the ruminal flora. This did not appear to apply to the same extent to cattle.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Liquid versus dry feeding in weaned piglets: the influence on small intestinal morphology

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