Diurnal Changes in the Concentrations of Micro-organisms in the Rumens of Sheep Fed to Appetite in Pens or at Pasture

The concentrations of the various groups of micro-organisms in the rumens of sheep when feeding on a roughage diet to appetite or grazing a mixed pasture, changed with time in patterns very similar to those pre-viously found in sheep fed restricted diets once daily. It is postulated that these patterns will be present wherever the daily eating behaviour of the animal includes a major fairly continuous period during which all or most of the ration is eaten, and long periods during which little or no feed is con-sumed