Dove, H.; Mayes, R. W.; Lamb, C. S.; Ellis, K. J.
Abstract:
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate factors influencing the release rate of octacosane (C28) and dotriacontane (C32) synthetic alkanes from controlled-release devices (CRD) inserted into the rumen of sheep, and the resultant accuracy of alkane-based estimates of herbage intake. In the first experiment, estimates of the rate of release of alkanes from CRD suspended in the rumen of 7 rumen-fistulated ewes were obtained by directly measuring the rate of CRD plunger travel. In the second experiment, CRD were administered orally to 24 castrate male sheep to evaluate the effects of level of feeding (1200