Behaviour of solute and particle markers in the stomach of sheep given a concentrate diet

1. Fistulated sheep given a concentrate diet were used to study the behaviour of solute ([51Cr]EDTA) and particle ([103Ru]phenanthroline) markers in the stomach under conditions of continuous feeding. 2. An injection of a mixed dose of [51Cr]EDTA and [103Ru]phenanthroline was given into the rumen and the time course of marker concentrations in the rumen and the abomasum was recorded. The curves were analysed on the assumption that the stomach of the sheep could be represented as two mixing compartments (reticulo-rumen and abomasum) and a time delay (omasum). This model provided a very good description of the data. 3. [103Ru]phenanthroline associated with small particles was retained in the rumen much longer than [51Cr]EDTA. Although exchange of [103Ru]phenanthroline occurred between large and small particle fractions, the results suggested that small particles may have been retained somewhat longer in the rumen than solutes. However, it was clear from the results that the mean retention times for particulate matter in the rumen could not be simply obtained using adsorbable markers. 4. Cyclical fluctuations in the concentration of [51Cr]EDTA in the rumen indicated that there were daily variations in net water flux in the rumen. 5. The presence of protozoa was associated with much shorter retention times of both solutes and particles in the rumen. Protozoa were also associated with reduced rumen volumes.