Distribution of Mineral Components in the Alimentary Tract of Sheep

抄録

The patterns of mineral distribution in the ruminal and upper duodenal ingesta from sheep maintained on two different types of diet, orchardgrass hay only and orchardgrass hay plus flaked corn, were investigated. Concentration of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in fractions of rumen and duodenum supernatant, duodenum sediments, bacteria, protozoa and feed were determined. Changes of pH value, depending on site of gastrointestinal tract and type of ration, seemed to affect mineral distribution in those five fractions in a manner characteristic with each element. lsotachophoretic analysis of macro elements suggested that Ca and Mg in rumen may scarcely exist as single cationic forms but as complex ions.