Abstract:
Acid-base titration curves of ovine ruminal fluid confirmed the findings of Clark and Lombard (1951) that ruminal fluid is relatively well buffered against addition of acid, but relatively poorly against additions of alkali. However, considerable differences were observed between samples from different sheep. These were associated with differences in the interval after feeding, the nature of the diet, and the consumption of drinking water; and were correlated with differences in total and relative concentrations of bicarbonate, phosphate, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). The relative importance of the main buffering components in particular fluids was studied by examining the effects of the following procedures upon titration curves: ( a ) varying bicarbonate concentration by varying pCO