[Effect of different types of diet on various biochemical aspects of digestive processes in sheep]

Two groups of female lambs of one and the same age, breed, and live weight were fed rations differing in type from two weeks to one year of age. The first group were fed concentrates predominantly, and the second group were fed feeds in which roughage prevailed. After the completion of one year of age experiments and biochemical investigations were carried out with both groups. The intestinal content was studied with regard to amino acid nitrogen and glucose, and the enzyme content - with regard to amylase, lipase, protease, and cellulase in the following sections of the digestive tract: reticulum, rumen, abomasum, small intestine, and caecum. An experiment was also carried out with the resorption in isolated intestinal folds of the initial portions of the jejunum and the caecum in which artificial chyme was introduced. Studied was the resorption of water, chlorides, calcium, glucose, fatty acids, and amino acid nitrogen. Differences were found in the enzyme content and composition of the intestinal content of the various portions of the digestive tract as well as in the resorption with the two groups under the effect of feeding of rations of different type.