Year: 2013 | Month: December | Volume 3 | Issue 2
Scanning Electron Microscopical and Morphometrical Studies on Ruminal Papillae of Sheep Fed on Concentrates
Abstract: <div>The objective of this study was to explore the time course of morphological</div><div>alterations of rumen papillae after changing the diet from hay (ad libitum) to a</div><div>mixed hay/concentrate diet. A total of 24 sheep were subjected to different periods of mixed hay/concentrate feeding ranging from 0 weeks (control; hay ad libitum) to 12 weeks (1-1.5 kg hay plus 780 g concentrate per day in two equal portions). Macro- and mesoscopic examinations, as well as scanning electron microscopical techniques were employed to study the rumen papillae of the different groups. Scanning electron microscopy (S.E.M) examination revealed that time and change of diet has greatly influenced ruminal papillae. This influence was expressed by the pronounced change of the papillae from small, tongue shaped when the animals were fed on hay to large, heavily cornified, finger_ and foliate_ shaped when fed on concentrates for 4-6 weeks. Morphometric analysis indicated that the increase in the length and number of papillae was also correlated to the duration of feeding</div><div>concentrates for 4-6 weeks. The total surface of papillae increased in the 2 days concentrate-fed sheep to 2 folds of that of hay-fed sheep and reached the maximum value (4 folds) within 4 weeks of concentrate feeding. It is concluded that the most of the adaptation events were significantly established in 4-6 weeks; changes in 12 weeks were similar, but less developed</div>
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